Mohonasen http://www.rotterdamny.net/ http://www.eblah.com en TAX CAP http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1319590091/ http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1319590091/#num1
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During the coming months, Mohonasen will begin the process of formulating a proposed spending plan for the 2012-2013 school year. For the most part, the school district budget development calendar will be similar to last year’s. However, the one dramatic change in the budget development process comes in the form of the state’s new tax levy cap legislation.

The law has been misconstrued and misrepresented in media sound bites as a “2 percent tax cap.” In fact, the law does not restrict any proposed tax levy increase to 2 percent. Instead, the law determines what level of support is needed for a school budget to pass. If the tax levy increase (before exemptions) is above the tax levy limit , the support of a supermajority (60 percent) of voters would be required for budget passage. If the levy is within the limit, a simple majority is needed for budget approval.

Please consider learning more about the tax levy cap and what it means for public schools in New York. Here are a few resources:

Frequently Asked Questions
  
“Understanding New York’s Property Tax Levy Cap As It Relates To Public Schools” – a publication by Capital Region BOCES in partnership with Questar II BOCES
  
Presentation to the Mohonasen Board of Education
  
]]> Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:48:11 senders Improving Physical,Nutritional Health For $645+K http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1317472684/ http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1317472684/#num1
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Mohonasen receives cash for physical, nutritional efforts
By Michael Lamendola
Grant aimed at kids’ health


ROTTERDAM — Mohonasen Central School District has received a three-year federal grant to expand physical education and nutrition programs both in-school and after-school, school officials announced.

The district received $644,572 through the Carol M. White Physical Education Program for the first year and expects to receive similar awards in years two and three. It will use the grant to improve the physical and nutritional health of approximately 2,500 students in kindergarten through 12th grade, said Joseph Scalise, Mohonasen’s director of health, physical education and athletics.

Mohonansen was one of 76 school districts and other education agencies in the country — and one of 10 in New York — to receive the grant.

“This grant is not to change what we are doing, but to enhance what we have and provide more opportunity, so that we can reach more students,” Scalise said.

The district plans to expand athletic programming by incorporating outdoor education, such as Project Adventure, and expand its fitness room by purchasing more equipment. The grant will also pay for the hiring of additional staff and for curriculum development and staff training.

Scalise said the new programming will target students who don’t typically benefit from the traditional “gym” model of team sports activities, including students with special needs.

“We have been accustomed to traditional sports activities. Now we will be able to implement innovative teaching styles and lessons for our students,” Scalise said. “We will expand our curriculum to include interactive fitness, which uses technology to reach students of today.”

The technology will include video gaming systems, such as the Wii.

“We want to maintain and continue to improve our program at the end the three-year grant,” Scalise said.
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]]> Sat, 1 Oct 2011 07:38:04 Admin Recess First > Then Lunch! http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1313145972/ http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1313145972/#num1
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School changes routine: Recess first, then lunch
Friday, August 12, 2011
By Michael Goot (Contact)
Gazette Reporter

ROTTERDAM — Elementary school students sometimes rush through their lunch and even throw some food away to get to the fun outside.
To improve student learning and decrease the amount of wasted food, Pinewood Intermediate School in the Mohonasen Central School District is changing the routine. Students will have recess first for 10 minutes and then come inside to eat lunch for the rest of the 30-minute period.
The change came about through the recommendation of the school’s health and wellness safety committee. Special education teacher Andrea Conover brought this idea to school officials’ attention when she was looking to do a research project as part of her alternate evaluation. They studied the issue and brought it to the health and wellness committee, which endorsed the idea. A similar program in Montana schools has shown several benefits, according to Pinewood Assistant Principal Deborah Kavanaugh.
“Students seem to be more motivated to get through their work and be productive so they can get to recess on time,” she said.
Also, this change will help curb disciplinary problems. Sometimes, Kavanaugh said, it is difficult for students to make the transition from running around outside to calmly sitting in a classroom. Little disputes from the playground can spill over and take away from learning, she said.
“The time allows things to settle down a little bit before they return,” she said.
There are also nutritional benefits of the program as students also tend to throw out less food. A study in Montana found that students wasted anywhere from 27 percent to 40 percent less food when recess comes first. They also consumed as much as 35 percent more calcium and protein.
“The kids ate more nutritional lunches because they weren’t rushing to get to recess. They ate a more well-rounded lunch instead of throwing it away to get to recess,” Kavanaugh said................................>>>>...........................................>>>>..........................http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2011/aug/12/0812_recess/
]]> Fri, 12 Aug 2011 05:46:12 Admin Mohonasen Teacher Drug Charges Dropped-RESIGNS http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1307701769/ http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1307701769/#num1
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ROTTERDAM
Evidence tossed in teacher drug case
BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter

    Evidence collected in the case of a Mohonasen teacher who was accused of doing crack cocaine in his car has been thrown out by a judge on the grounds that it was illegally obtained.
    If it stands, the attorney for defendant Kristofer P. Rose said the ruling would lead to the charges against his client being dropped.
    But a spokeswoman for the Albany County District Attorney’s Offi ce confirmed Thursday that prosecutors plan to appeal the ruling.
    Rose, 33, an eighth-grade teacher at Draper Middle School, was arrested May 23, 2010, after police said he was acting suspiciously in his car, which was parked at the intersection of Broadway and North Ferry Street in Albany.
    He allegedly had one piece of crack cocaine in the car and a piece of paper with powdered cocaine in his pocket. He was charged with misdemeanor seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
    His attorney, Dennis Schlenker, had argued during a suppression hearing in March that the search was illegal because Offi cer Bret Phillips did not have cause to detain Rose.
    Phillips testified that he saw Rose slouching down in his seat and moving his hands toward his waistband. The officer did a U-turn and stopped his car across from Rose, asking his name and where he was going. Rose told the offi cer that he had been painting with a friend and was going to a nearby bar to meet up with someone. ..........................>>>>.....................>>>>...........................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00901&AppName=1
]]> Fri, 10 Jun 2011 05:29:29 Admin Mohonasen budget approved by voters http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1305684264/ http://www.rotterdamny.net/m-1305684264/#num1 http://www.mohonasen.org/budget/index.cfm

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May 17, 2011

Mohonasen budget approved by voters

On Tuesday, May 17, Mohonasen residents voted to approve the district's 2011-2012 proposed budget with 1272 voting in favor and 781 voting against it. The $42.9 million budget carries a 0.43 percent spending increase over the current year and a 2.5 percent increase in the tax levy.

“I want to thank everyone who came out and voted today. This budget represents a real collaborative effort by the members of our community," Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Spring said.

"These are difficult economic times, but because of the participation we received from our residents at our budget forums and the concessions on the part of our teachers, support staff, supervisors and administrators, we were able to develop a budget that preserves our programs for our students. I look forward to continuing this joint effort as we navigate future challenges. We are fortunate to live in a community where people recognize the value of their schools.”

Voters also approved a $370,000 proposition to purchase three full-size 66-passenger buses and one Suburban, with 1175 voting in favor and 870 voting against it.

Two candidates were also elected to the Mohonasen Board of Education. Voters elected Nancy del Prado (1532 votes) and Mark Moran  (1582 votes).
]]> Tue, 17 May 2011 21:04:24 Kevin March