Education
Lancaster Central School District Board of Education Organizational meeting
By Lee Chowaniec
Jul 13, 2010, 10:23

At Monday evening’s Lancaster Central School District’s (LCSD) Board of Education (BOE) organizational meeting, administration of oath was given to Superintendent Edward J. Myszka, newly elected board member Brenda Christopher and re-elected board members Kenneth Graber.

Mrs. Marie MacKay was re-elected as BOE president and Mr. Joseph Maciejewski re-elected as vice-president. Board member David Zalenski entertained a motion to continue the leadership of the Lancaster school district board by nominating MacKay as school board president and at the same Maciejewski as vice president. Board member Ken Graber seconded the motion and the motion was unanimously approved.

The 2010-11 LCSD Board of Education will be comprised of the following:

Mrs. Marie MacKay – President

Mr. Joseph Maciejewski – Vice President

Mrs. Wendy Buchert – Member

Dr. Joseph Casimino – Member

Mrs. Brenda Christopher - Member

Mr. Ken Graber – Member

Mr. David Zalenski – Member


Other Officer Appointments

Clerk of the Board – Sandra Janik
District Treasurer – Carol Peck
Deputy Treasurer – Beth Ulbrich
Internal Claims Auditor – Linda Michalak

Designations

Establishment of dates of regular meetings
Approval of 2009-10 Budget calendar
Official Newspaper – Lancaster Bee, Depew Bee
Official Television Station – Time Warner Cable
Official Radio Stations – WBEN, WXRL and WGR
Authorize the hourly rate for off-duty security officers at $24.00/hour

Other Appointments

Appoint School Physician – Lancaster Depew Pediatrics
Appoint Chief Dental Officer – Brennan Brennan
Appoint Occustar, Inc. for employee physicals
Appoint Fire Code Inspector – Jeff Simme
Appoint Independent Auditor – Drescher & Malecki
Appoint Internal Audit Services – Freed & Maxick
Appoint School Attorney - Harris Beach PLLC
Appoint Harris Beach – Taylor Law Purposes
Appoint Hodgson Russ for ongoing tax certioraris and to provide continued bond counsel as needed
Appoint Insurance Broker – Evans Agency Insurance
Appoint Financial Advisor – Capitol Markets Advisors, LLC
Appoint Title IX Officers – Michael Vallely, Michele Ziegler, Sarah Weidler, Marie Perini and Alan Getter
Appoint School Resource Officers as Law Enforcement Unit

Those are but some of the organizational appointments and authorizations


Lancaster Central Teacher Association (LTA) presentation

During the time allotted for the LTA to issue its monthly report, a presentation was delivered whereby the BOE was requested to reconsider the 2010 NYS Retirement Incentive program for teachers eligible for early retirement.

Information was presented to the board that would be helpful for them to consider Part A of the incentive program vs. the Part B plan the school district has already offered those considering the early retirement option. The Plan B incentive offered by the school district and budgeted for was $30,000 (increased from an initial offer of $20,000). Initially, teachers were not eligible for Plan A consideration. NYSUT sued and won the right to be considered for Plan A consideration.

The speaker asked for like treatment that was extended to past staff in 1998 and 2002. He acknowledged that the State did offer the plan at a late date and that the time to accept the state plan is near at hand (end of July). He asserted that by considering the new plan the school district will be better off financially in the long run. “We realize we are making this request and we have nothing to give back in return. The fourteen people you see on the retirement list have 450 years of experience. That means they are dedicated and have a passion that was shown by what has been accomplished in the past. We are not asking for special treatment just for you (BOE) to consider the NYS Retirement offer."

A second presenter reiterated the timeline issue and stated that nine teachers have already put in for the retirement incentive offered by the school district. The speaker referred to the cost of the program and the savings that could be realized. Handouts were issued to board members but no data was publically stated.

The presentation was interrupted by board members who felt this meeting was not the time and place to review the data presented with such short notice. It was suggested the data be reviewed by Mr. Getter, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Support Services, then presented to the BOE at a 6 pm Executive Session tonight (Tuesday, June 13th) and then reviewed with LTA representatives at an open work session on whether the school district has the revenue to meet the proposed Plan A offer of the NYS Retirement System.

Although no data was made public it is difficult to understand where savings could be had under Plan A when payouts could be more extensive over time and with a plan based on life expectancy.

Oh well, that should become clear at tonight’s work session and whether the school district has the funds to opt to another what appears to be more lucrative plan.

Stayed tuned!



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