March 2018 District Newsletter
March Events
3/06: Board of Education Work Session, 6:30 p.m.
3/13: Regular Board of Education Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
3/14: Transition From Preschool to School Age, Presented by SUPAC, 5:30 p.m.
3/20: Board of Education Work Session, 6:30 p.m.
3/27: Regular Board of Education Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
3/29: Professional Development Day for Staff, No School for Students
3/30: No School for Students or Staff
Graduation Rate
Continues to Climb
The State Education Department recently released data about graduation rates, and we have good reason to celebrate. Our graduation rate went from 74% in 2016 to 83% in 2017. That’s a nine percent increase!

Principal John Zarcone said, “The rate increase is due to several factors, one of which is the availability of academic support opportunities. This includes all teachers being available to work with students from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., study tables from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and before school math help. Study tables provide students with designated staff members for content area support. We have a faculty of superstar teachers and support staff willing to help students in need. Teachers have made a conscious effort to use active learning strategies and increase engagement, making class a more interesting place to be.” Read More...
Facilities Study Update
The Facilities Study Committee that was convened last May has finished their work, and the consultants that the Board of Education hired to make recommendations about our school facilities presented their final report to the Board of Education at their January 23rd meeting. The consultants, with feedback from the committee and public, examined many aspects of the District's finances, facilities, and programs and then made several recommendations to the Board including closing a school. There are difficult choices that the Board and our community must consider to remain fiscally responsible.

The Board of Education has revised their calendar to provide additional time for them to discuss the topic. This schedule includes regularly scheduled meetings to conduct regular business as well as additional sessions to discuss facilities and a potential school closure.

  • 3/6: Board of Education work session (this is an open meeting for observation but is not a time for public comment)
  • 3/13: Regular Board of Education meeting
  • 3/20: Board of Education work session (this is an open meeting for observation but is not a time for public comment)
  • 3/27: Regular Board of Education meeting
  • 4/10: Regular Board of Education meeting (adopt 2018-19 budget)
  • 4/16: Regular Board of Education meeting, BOCES administration budget vote and potential building closure vote (this meeting is on a Monday as required by the state for the BOCES administration vote)
  • 5/8: Regular Board of Education meeting, public hearing on the 2018-19 budget and possible meet the candidates
  • 5/15: 2018-19 Budget vote and Board of Education elections
  • 6/5: Regular Board of Education meeting
  • 6/19: Regular Board of Education meeting
  • 7/3: Annual reorganization meeting
Winter Sports Wrap Up
As the first signs of spring begin to show themselves in Central New York, it also brings with it the close of the winter sports season. Check out the achievements of our winter sports programs this season!

If a team had 75% of the student athletes have an average of over 90%, the team received scholar athlete team recognition. If the team did not make the threshold, individual athletes were recognized to be scholar athletes. Cortland is proud to have had several scholar athlete teams and scholar athletes this winter season. Each of our teams had

WRESTLING
The varsity wrestling team finished the season with five wrestlers qualifying for sectionals. 

“Our 106-pound, sophomore Kaydan Haynes placed third. Our 99-pound, eighth grader Josh Rowland placed fifth, and our 132-pound, senior Aaron Kelchner placed sixth. We were more of a tournament team than a dual meet team this season. I am proud of our individual performances,” said Coach Daniel Joseph, head coach of the wrestling program.
Running for School Board?
Have you ever thought about serving your school district in a greater capacity? Running for school board may be for you!

Many people hesitate when they consider running for school board because they do not know the basic facts about what it exactly entails. The most frequently asked question is, “Is it time consuming?” The duration of time you would be committed to is meetings twice a month. In addition to regular meetings, all school board members sit on additional committees as well, but most committees only meet once a month. All school board members come to each meeting prepared ahead of time which includes reading material in advance.

Many people consider being on a school board a rewarding experience. Board members are exposed to the logistics of how the district operates, the staffing of the organization, and how to work collaboratively with the other board members.

School board members keep the public schools flexible and responsive to the needs of the local communities. A member of the Board of Education in New York State is a very important responsibility. The Board focuses on the vision, goals and policy of the school district and the Superintendent focuses on the objectives, plans and actions.

The Board oversees the education of students and is responsible for school district operations, but does not directly run the District’s day to day operations. Read More...
Changes To State Tests
Changes have been made at the State level regarding the administration of the tests and the use of the data:
  • The tests are now shorter (two sessions rather than three)
  • More time to complete tests (all students have extended time if needed)
  • Test scores do not affect teacher evaluation scores
  • New state standards were developed with educators to replace the Common Core
  • More test questions are being released so teachers can use them
  • More New York State teachers and administrators have been involved in test design

These changes are evidence that the Commissioner and State Education Department listened to parents and educators to make some changes.

There have also been changes at the Federal level with the replacement of the “No Child Left Behind Act" with the “Every Student Succeeds Act” (ESSA). There are two parts of the new law that have a significant impact on us: attendance and participation rates on the 3-8 and for Regents exams. The threshold for the participation rate on these tests is 95%. This means that unless 95% of our students take the state tests, our district will not be considered to be making the student achievement progress toward which we are working so diligently.
Unified Basketball
The Cortland Athletic program is excited to bring Unified Basketball, to Cortland High School. The Unified Basketball team will be composed of students in grades 9-12 with and without intellectual disabilities. The team will play in the spring against Baldwinsville, Fayetteville Manlius, West Genesee, East Syracuse Minoa, and Chittenango. The season starts on March 26 and ends with a culminating event at Lemoyne College.

Unified Sports is a registered program of Special Olympics that combines approximately equal numbers of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on a sports team. The purpose of the Unified Sports program is to provide an authentic, competitive opportunity for students with intellectual disabilities to participate in athletics.

Tim Wagoner, Athletic Director at Cortland Enlarged City School District said, “ I am excited to bring Unified Sports to Cortland. I think it is a great opportunity for individuals with intellectual disabilities and students without disabilities to be partnered together to form a unified team. This is a way for students that do not have the opportunity to participate on our athletic teams to have the chance to be involved.” Read More...
The 2018-2019 Budget
Each year, the school budget process becomes more and more difficult due to a number of factors that have affected the state, local, and national levels. Many of our financial struggles are due to politics. Albany continues to shift the tax burden to the local level while federal support for public education is decreasing.
We began this budget process with the typical increases in health care, contractual obligations, and the normal inflation factors. Despite those increases, we were able to close the gap between expenses and revenues when possible through staff reductions (retirement) and the continued use of reserve funds. Reserves are similar to your own savings account and should be used sparingly as they are finite resources. As we reduced costs, we were mindful of student needs. We are, after all, here to educate children in the most fiscally responsible manner possible.
The budget being proposed to the voters has a modest 1.2% increase in the tax levy, which matches the Tax Levy Limit for the 2018-19 school year. This is after two years of 0% increase. The Board of Education has decided not to exceed the Tax Levy Limit.
  • 3/08: Randall Concert at Randall, 7:00 p.m.
  • 3/24: NYSSMA Solo Festival at CHS, All Day
  • 4/18: Parker Concert at Parker, 7:00 p.m.
  • 4/19: Jazz Concert at CHS, 7:00 p.m.
  • 5/02: Parker Concert at Parker, 7:00 p.m.
  • 5/09: Randall Concert at CHS, 7:00 p.m.
  • 5/10: District Orchestra Concert at CHS, 7:00 p.m.
  • 5/15: Barry Concert at CHS, 7:00 p.m.
  • 5/16: Jr. High Choirs Concert at CHS,7:00 p.m.
  • 5/17: Elementary Select Chorus Concert, 7:00 p.m.
  • 5/21: Virgil Concert at Virgil, 7:00 p.m.
  • 5/22: Smith Concert at Smith, 7:00 p.m.
  • 5/23: Senior High Choir Concert at CHS, 7:00 p.m.
  • 5/24: Jamfest at Center for the Arts, 6:00 p.m.
  • 5/31: District Band Concert at CHS, 7:00 p.m.
  • 6/12: Electrify Your Strings, TBD, 7:00 p.m.
  • 6/14: Musical at Parker, 7:00 p.m.
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