BOE: Submit technical questions in advance

PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains Central School District Board of Education (BOE) begin its meeting at the Seymour Smith Intermediate Learning Center on Oct. 12 with the annual tour of the Seymour Smith building, which included a review of the masonry project that was conducted during the summer to repair and improve the drainage and septic systems, sidewalks and leaking roofs. The project was completed under budget.During the first public comment segment of the meeting, a member of the audience asked the board questions about the superintendent’s salary, the heating expenses in the bus garage, the extra money from the 2010-11 budget and the tax levy increase.The board was unable to give detailed responses to these questions due to the technical and specific nature of the questions. The board planned on researching the topics and said the questions would be addressed during the next scheduled board meeting on Oct. 19.During an interview, BOE President Bruce Kimball said he prefers if technical questions are submitted to the board a few days before each meeting so the board can have the necessary material ready and available in order to respond to the questions.At the meeting, the BOE also gave an update regarding the request from the Pine Plains Recreation Department for a reduction in the usage fees for the school fields and facilities.The school district business office has met with the recreation committee’s supervisor, Catherine Prentice, to discuss the costs and the programs offered by the recreation department. Under the current fee schedule, the town would be required to pay the district thousands of dollars for use of the school’s facilities. That high cost has the potential to halt the recreation programs.While under a contingency budget, the district is required to charge for all use of the school facilities if the use takes place outside of normal school operating hours.The business office was scheduled to present the school board with a legal and fair alternative fee schedule during the Oct. 19 BOE meeting.

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