Confusing Transfers the Subject of Budget Talks

Northport trustees once again pored over line items in the 2012-2013 budget at Monday's Board of Education meeting with some members questioning confusing transfers of money from one line to others.

Trustee Jennifer Thompson inquired about one such line involving BOCES services. In 2010-2011, there were $1.2 million in expenditures but zero proposed for 2011-2012. However, $800,000 has been expended to date, and the number proposed for 2012-2013 rises to $1.8 million.

Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Administration Matt Nelson said that the numbers reflected transfers from other lines which were requested by the external auditor.

"it's very difficult to follow this," trustee Joe Sabia said. "You can't follow where the money went."

Armand D'Accordo, a CPA, said he couldn't follow it either and wanted to know what the $1.2 million was for. "It's impossible to understand what the hell is going on," he said. "It looks shady, to be honest."

Assistant Superintendent for Business Kathleen Molander said the amount was probably for land support and the five-year BOCES lease, and said she would provide the journal entries provided to the external auditor.

Molander also explained that there is a lag time between when the monthly BOCES bill is submitted and when it's approved, with the $800,000 expended so far most likely reflecting bills up through Dec. D'Accordo expressed surprise that several people in the district need to sign off.

Trustees also looked at attendance which will see an $8,600 increase in the proposed budget. Trustee Lori McCue wanted to get an update on the high school attendance runners program, in which teachers go to classrooms during their non-instructional time to talk to students about illegal cuts.

Principal Irene McLaughlin said the program, which was decreased from 12 runners to 9, was doing well. "It's a tremendous amount of work." She said the value lies in the fact that issues are addressed quickly and students see an immediate connection between their actions and the consequences. However, she wasn't able to provide any hard data as to whether the "cut squad" actually deters absences.

D'Accordo thought data would be helpful but McLaughlin said it might be comparing apples to oranges,  noting that one would have to look at what are legal days out, which equates to nine class cuts, versus a true class cut.

Trustee Tammie Topel said that while she appreciates data, she thought having more eyes on particular students was good. Trustee Andrew Rapiejko noted that he was "a data guy."

McLaughlin said, "Maybe next year we could look at that."

Vice President Donna McNaughton asked if the addition of Netbooks for staff could help address the issue of attendance. McLaughlin said it would reduce the amount of human error, as well as the amount of contact needed.

"That's great," Topel noted. "But it still needs to be manual. The biggest partner is the parent."

A $39,000 increase under guidance was also scrutinized. Molander said it was for the high school guidance department to work during additional days in the summer to get students ready for fall. 

D'Accordo asked if that was new. Molander said it wasn't reflected at all last year and therefore the district had to do a transfer. D'Accordo noted the low expense to date but Molander said many teachers opt to take a lump sum in June.

A preliminary public hearing on the budget will take place on Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the large cafeteria.

A PDF of the proposed budget is attached to this article.