May 2018 District Newsletter
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May Events
- 5/08: Board of Education Meet the Candidates Public Budget Hearing and Regular Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
- 5/15: School Board Elections and School Budget Vote, 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- 5/15: School Board of Education Meeting and Canvassing of the Votes, 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
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Facilities Study Update
Dear Cortland Community,
As we get closer to a vote by the Board of Education (BOE) on possible school closures, I felt it necessary to bring you up to date on the process.
The Board held an additional public forum on April 16, 2018 to hear additional comments and questions from the community regarding the possible closure of Parker and/or Virgil Elementary. At that meeting fourteen community members spoke passionately about their respective schools and offered a series of suggestions and questions. The question, and their answers, have been collected in a Q&A document which can be found at the
Facilities Study section
of our website, along with other information. Also at the same part of our website you can find all of the documents and presentations that the Board has been considering.
Please know that your Board of Education has been, and remains, dedicated to making this difficult decision in a transparent and collaborative manner. Their interest is in trying to find a path to financial sustainability while enhancing learning for students and staff.
The Board will hold one additional work session on May 1, 2018 at the Kaufman Center to discuss items related to the last public forum. The actual decision will be made prior to the end of the school year. As was said at the forum, the Board and I are proud to acknowledge this community’s passion and the professionalism throughout the year-long process. The vast majority of people have been respectful in their suggestions and generous with their time and thoughts and to them we say “thank you.”
We are not alone in experiencing declining enrollment and revenue while expenses continue to rise. Everyone looks forward to the day when Cortland Enlarged City School District is financially healthy and can start improving (rather than maintaining) our facilities while creating amazing opportunities for our students and community.
Yours in education,
Michael J. Hoose, Superintendent
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Budget Vote Reminder
Each year, the school budget process becomes more and more difficult due to a number of factors that have affected us at the local, state, and national levels. Many of our struggles are due to politics. Albany continues to shift the tax burden to the local level and the federal level of support for public education is in question.
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 by reducing costs where possible, staff reductions through retirement, and the continued use of reserve funds. It should be noted that a large portion of cost savings came to us through negotiated contract concessions. 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 our children in the most fiscally responsible manner possible.
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National Technical Honor Society
Part of our mission at Cortland Enlarged City School District is to allow students to reach their fullest potential in becoming life-long learners and successful, contributing members of the society in which they live. Career and Technical Education provides career-oriented learning experiences for students and allows students to explore what a future would be like in a technical field.
Students at Cortland Senior High School have an opportunity to begin hands on training in a specific career field at the OCM BOCES McEvoy Campus. Students that choose to participate in the Career and Technical Education program can qualify to be inducted in the National Technical Honor Society by having an 85 average or higher, 12 or fewer absences from their program for the year and receive a teacher endorsement. Students must also demonstrate attributes that include: respect, honesty, skill, responsibility, leadership, service and citizenship.
Read more...
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High School students Visit Washington D.C.
For many of our students, a jaunt to Washington, D.C. to see the nation's capital is not something that easily fits into their busy schedule. Many of the students have sports, extra curriculars and are booked solid. However, fifty students cleared their calendar and woke up at 3 a.m. to get to the high school and start the journey south to our nation's capital.
When we arrived at the National Mall, the first thing we noticed were the bright pink cherry blossoms, which brought a certain buzz to the air. Nothing says spring like the nation's greatest springtime celebration. Tourists from across the United States and the world all flocked to D.C. to view the beautiful trees.
Read more...
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Dynamic Paws Performs At Naturalization Ceremony
For decades, acapella was a tradition that thrived mainly at Ivy League colleges and small liberal arts schools. But acapella is enjoying an explosion on all campuses both college and high schools, with new groups popping up every year and being noticed in popular culture.
Cortland Senior High School is no exception to this trend. We have our own group: Cortland Dynamic Paws. Mr. Wells, Senior High School Music teacher, advises the group. He selects the music and oversees the rehearsals. Like many colleges, there is an audition process for students who want to join the group. Mr. Wells, a Cortland native, is actively involved in the Cortland music community. He not only does the Dynamic Paws group, but overseas both the Senior High and Junior High musical. He also is a member of the Cortland Summer Youth Bureau theater.
Read more...
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- 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 at CHS, 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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