The evening of 2023-02-28 was a meeting of the Honeoye Falls-Lima Board of Education (BoE), and Program Budget Advisory Council (PBAC).
Full disclosure: I sit on the PBAC, so some of these Observations aren’t exactly from the Audience.
Before the budget discussion, there were a few reports for the Board’s review. The monthly Treasurer’s report, which continued looking positive for the District. And the School Lunch report, which I found interesting as the program is currently running at a loss. At one point this would have been cause for serious discussion, but not tonight. Instead it was stated that they will be looking at increasing lunch price to students in the future. Which is fair enough, there was enough else on tonight’s Agenda and changing prices mid-year would likely irritate more then help.
The student board representative said student attendance has been higher of late. I only mention this as I find it amusing that the student making such a statement shows up to more BoE meetings then the other Student Board Representatives. Perhaps they have stepped down? Either way, good for her.
The Board attempted to define the scope for an upcoming Workshop meeting. In generalities, it’s about what students will be doing after leaving HFL. Are they equipped to live life on their own? Ready to go into a career? Will they be going to college? As for details, well that’s what the workshop will be for. In any case, I look forward to it.
The budget portion of the meeting started off with Colin (Business) giving an update on numbers. In particular, that this years level limit is 1.94%, which would gain ~$600k in additional revenue. While that is the cap, realistically I expect it will also be the proposed, when the budget goes out to the public.
First presentation was from the Middle School, and continued the tradition of being the longest budget presentation. Which I only mention as it is this principals first year on the job and he opened with a joke on continuing that particular tradition. Apart from that, not a whole lot to say here. Various questions/concerns came up, but overall things seem to be going well here. And Jason’s (Middle School Principal) focus is continuing that during his transition into this role.
Second presentation, and last budget presentation, was from the Central Office. Again, not much to say here. I got the sense that some of the things being asked for as a ‘one year’ change will end up becoming longer term. Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) being the obvious one. Nothing concrete, but just my feel of how things were being discussed. We’ll find out next year, but at least this years TOSA cost is being covered by a Federal grant. Still (future) taxpayer money, but it does mean no direct impact on the Districts budget.
As before, the videos of the presentations should be available online soon. If you would like to watch them. And with the presentations finished, the PBAC and BoE separated for their discussions. When the PBAC had finished, the BoE had either left or was in executive session. Either way, the public portion of the meeting looked to have concluded.
And those are my Observations From Audience Land for the February 28, 2023 meeting of the Honeoye Falls-Lima Board of Education.
Agenda’s and similar information can be found at HFL’s BoardDocs page. While a recording will likely be available soon.