FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
From BOE Meetings
Re: LAND PURCHASE
Please note that any
questions that address information included in the negotiation of the property
sale cannot be discussed in an open forum. As soon as we have an accepted offer
we will disclose specific information.
These questions have
been generated by the Board of Education and other community members.
1.
Was
the money for this land in the budget?
Ø
No It
would have to be approved by the voters.
Ø Money for a down payment, to be put in an escrow account would come from fund balance.
2.
When
are we looking to use the land?
Ø We are planning for the future and will need it according to changing demographics.
3.
Is
this a decision that must be made quickly?
Ø
Yes. Land
that is appropriate for a school
building is becoming scarce.
4.
How
much land are we talking about, or how much land do we need?
Ø
For a
building that meets our needs we would purchase approximately 20 usable acres.
Properties often contain unusable land( i.e. Wet lands that would require a
larger purchase.)
5.
What is the price per acre?
Ø
The
district will negotiate the best possible price.
6.
Where
will the land be located?
Ø
The property
will be located in the
7.
Is
all information from the Enrollment Committee being used to
support a decision?
Ø
All
information will be used and current demographic information will be included.
8.
Is
there a consideration regarding needs at primary levels?
ie. Two Elementary Schools
Ø
All grade
levels will be considered in the demographic study to determine what is
appropriate for the school district.
9.
If a
future decision was made to build a high school, how will the old high school be
used when new high school is built?
Ø
Considering
the demographic study, grade level configuration will be determined according to
District need. For example, it could become an intermediate building-grades 4
and 5.
10.
If
cost of land is not in budget, where is funding coming from?
Ø The school district would borrow the money and pay for it over time (15- years)
11.
Can
costs be cut in other areas in order to contain building costs?
Ø
Pawling is
always looking to control cost. For example, last year the Board of Education
refinanced one of the district bonds and will save $600,000 in paying off the
bond. This savings can be used to support a purchase.
12.
Will
we look into location of land in regard to transportation cost?
Ø
The
location of the building will be one of the factors in the decision to
purchase. Location alone would not be the deciding factor.
13.
Have
you thought of deed restrictions for sales?
Ø
Contingency
items would be part of the district’s decision to purchase property. Any restrictions placed on the property would
be negotiated with the seller.
14.
Will
this discussion be ongoing?
Ø
Yes,
because the district must plan for programmatic and expansion needs. (i.e.
space for student services, athletics, music and the arts)
15.
How
can I help inform the public about these discussions?
Ø
You can
attend Board of Ed. Meetings
Ø
Invite
your friends!
Ø
Share
accurate information and direct people to sources of correct information,
including this Q&A.
Ø
Use the
district website to get answers an review previous questions
Ø
Post
questions to the Board of Education and the school district.
i.
At
this address
www.pawlingschools.org
ii.
Click
on Board of Education tab on the left side of the district home page
16.
If
the district buys the property can it be used as playing fields until
the new school is built?
Ø
Once the
district owns the property it has control over how it is used.
17.
Why
is there a lack of specific information regarding the land purchase?
Ø
Specific
information about the land purchase is part of the negotiation process. Until
the district has negotiated the best offer possible, it would not be prudent to
share conversations or offers. That would compromise our negotiating position.
18. Is there any discussion in the Town and Village about controlling development?
Ø
There are
discussions in the town and the village concerning growth. There are
differences in opinion regarding the appropriate direction to take. The school
district will continue to look for opportunities to articulate with both
entities.
19.
What
are the changes in demographics over the past twelve years?
Ø
Click here for a detailed chart
of growth over the past twelve years.
Adobe Acrobat Reader required
to view chart. It can be downloaded here:
20.
Why
are people moving from Pawling?
Ø
We are
still seeking information to answer this question.
21.
What
are unfunded mandates?
Ø Unfunded mandates are directives from the New York State Department of Education that set requirements for districts to meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind.. Districts must provide these services to students at their own expense. There is no money from the State to buy programs and hire staff. This burden falls solely on the District and the tax payers of the school district.
22.
How
do unfunded mandates effect the school budget?
Ø Unfunded mandate costs must be put in the budget to purchase programs, hire staff and monitor student growth. These expenses increase the dollar amount of the budget.
23.
Where
is the land? How many acres?
Ø
Confidentiality
is required during the negotiations process. The seller has asked for anonymity
at this point in time
24.
Why
aren’t we adding onto the Middle School?
Ø
Each of
the school buildings is at maximum capacity at this time. The District can not
add programs due in part to the lack of space. If the district chooses to
renovate instead of build, renovations would be needed to each of the buildings
and the renovations would take place concurrently. This would make conditions
in and around the district very difficult since work could not be completed
during the summer months. Construction on a school building requires vigilant
safety precautions which would make access to certain outdoor spaces
impossible. Construction would be highly disruptive to students, staff and
parents.
25.
Why
are we doing this now? Isn’t enrollment going down?
Ø
The
buildings are concurrently at maximum capacity. Every space is being used
almost 100% of the day. Enrollment has steadily increased for the past 12
years. We have had a decrease this September. New York State mandates have
required increases in staff, services and the space to provide the mandated
services.
26.
Were
plans based on false information?
Ø
The
Enrollment Committee recommendation was based on the data collected at that
time. All concerned are working to provide the most accurate information
available. We are currently researching another demographic study that would be
required by
27.
How
many new developments are planned?
Ø
The Town
and Village have this information and it will be included in the updated
demographic study.
28. What
is the difference in cost between renovation and new construction?
Ø
Although the cost of renovations would be a
bit less expensive, construction would be required in all schools at the same
time. This would be disruptive to all educational programs and community use of
facilities. It would also require extensive safety measures to secure the
buildings, protect the staff, students and community members. Construction of
safety barricades, identification of construction workers, heavy equipment
precautions would be required. Additional
development would further limit the green space and put unrealistic pressure on
core facilities such as the cafeteria, library, computer labs, fields and parking on the current site.
29. What
are five programs that Pawling would add?
Ø
Special education programs require additional space that cannot be
accommodated in regular ed. Classroom
Ø
Bringing back special education students to the district would be cost
efficient, however this requires more space and more specialized teaching
spaces that we currently do not have. Many special needs students can coexist
with the regular education students and teacher schedules. However students
with greater disabilities who could return to the district will need additional
time for instructional tasks. They cannot coexist in current schedules and
facilities. For examples: life skills
classes- Due to their learning needs, these students would require more time to
accomplish a cooking activity in the home and careers classroom. Requiring
these students to conform to the general education schedule does a disservice
to them and will not allow us to meet
the directive of their IEP’s (Individual Education Plan)
Ø
Mandated programs such as AIS (Academic Intervention Services) must be
provided for all students who do not meet
Ø
Art and music programs currently provide our students with the basic
curriculum. Extensions of these disciplines such as sculpture, painting and
computer graphics require appropriate spaces.
Studios art, multimedia, strings and orchestra are programs we would
like to add.
Ø
Drama experiences are minimal because stage spaces are used to provide
regular classroom instruction. Drama is compromised as a result. Auditorium
space for assemblies is also diminished.
Ø
Current curriculum has increased emphasis on health and wellness and yet
our present space limitations make it impossible to provide additional
opportunities for students to develop these skills and attitudes in these
areas.
30.
Was there a survey done to identify needs/wants of community?
Ø
Yes. A
community telephone survey Implemented with the assistance of
31. When
was the last time an independent audit conducted? (Operational v
financial)?
Ø
As
mandated by current regulations, the district has conducted the following
audits:
o
Independent
audits are conducted every year. This year a new auditing form was hired by the
Board of Education.
o
An
internal auditor shall be hired by December.
o
IRS audit
done every few years
o
SED Child
Nutrition audits the School Lunch Program every five years
o
o
NYS Dept.
of Motor Vehicles audits our motor vehicle and driver records every few years
32. What
is tax limitation and why did we lose $300,000?
Ø
Tax limitation aid is one of the categories of State Aid. It is based on total resident income. In 2004-2005 school year, the resident income
in the district increased by $10,000,000 within one year and the district was
going to get no tax limitation aid, a loss of $230,000. Senator Liebell was able to get the district
a special aid grant for this amount.
33. Where
were additional students placed prior to 2004 (Middle School)?
Ø
Classes
were held in hallways, modified bathroom spaces, stages, alcoves and dish room.
At times two classes shared one learning space which did not provide adequate
instruction for either group.
Ø
Currently
classes are still held in these inappropriate spaces.
34. How has staff increased to meet
mandates? How does this impact space?
Ø
Mandates
have required the district to add staff that increase the chances of our
students reaching the required benchmarks of the
Ø
Ø
Social
worker (one person requires space in each building)
Ø
Psychologists
Ø
AIS math
teachers (for math improvement)
Ø
Smaller
class sizes is an academic intervention
Ø
AIS
teachers are sharing spaces. In some cases there are 4 teachers sharing one
room.
Ø
Every
appropriate and inappropriate space is being used.
Ø
Team meeting
room spaces in the middle school have been usurped by required AIS and special
education program. Thereby eliminating professional work spaces for teachers
and staff and parent meetings.
35.
Since we have 300 plus acres in
Ø The school district does not own the property at
36.
Has
there been a study done to identify square footage in classroom space?
Ø
School districts have the requirements from
the NYS Education Department that address classroom square footage
requirements. We also have information from the people who work with the
children and implement the programs on a daily basis. We are in the process of
conducting a formal study that will address this issue and quantify the
results.
37.
How
aggressively are we looking at square footage?
Ø
We have students and staff using every available space in the existing
schools. If there was additional square footage, we would be using now. No new
programs can be implemented due to this lack of space.
38.
Is it
possible another building could be built to accommodate special programs? (ie.
Art, and Music)
Ø
The
requirements for expansion are not only to create opportunity for special
programs. The District needs space for regular instructional programs. If
special programs were removed from a school, that would not provide the space
that is need to meet the instructional needs of the students.
39.
Do we
know the “life expectancy” of the Elementary School and High School?
Ø
The life expectancy of the schools is
directly related to the care an functionality of the buildings. Roofs,
electrical capability, heating, foundations, building materials and configurations
all contribute to the life expectancy of our buildings. The district intends to
maintain its buildings.
40.
It is
implied that you are buying land to put up a building… if voters approved the
original Middle School proposal would we still need to build/renovate now?
Ø A larger middle school building would have provided the district with more space. The original plan included space for the District Office as well. However the needs of the students and programs in the elementary and high schools would not have been addressed by a larger middle school building. Another issue to be considered is the core facilities, both inside and outside. The kitchen, cafeteria, playing fields, parking, library and computer labs are areas that are designed for a finite number of users.