Agreement in place, boards look to cut costs
Council, School Board eye taxpayer savings

by Larry Austin
Grand Island Dispatch, November 2, 2007

Joint meetings of the Grand Island Board of Education and the Grand Island Town Board have put the two bodies on track to investigate substantial cost savings to GI taxpayers.

The two boards met Monday night at Grand Island High School and discussed four points during the meeting:

• An intermunicipal agreement between the two boards
• Shared use of equipment
• A possible joint transportation center
• A shared newsletter

An intermunicipal agreement has put the working relationship in black and white, said Town Supervisor Peter McMahon. GI School Superintendent Robert Christmann said the joint agreement has solidified the relationship between the two boards and is a foundation of future cooperative endeavors.

Among the tangible sharing of services, the school would like to share use of a heavy duty snow plow, specifically for clearing snow from its large parking lots, Christmann said. The plan is under discussion with the Town Highway Department. McMahon said the idea is one the two boards can work out through a shared use or lease.

The town will resubmit grant applications for study of a joint transportation center that “has the potential to save both the district and town a lot of money,” McMahon said. School Board President Richard Little said the board would likely move ahead with a study whether they receive a grant or not.

Christmann said a joint transportation center would be aidable by the state, but it would have to be on school district property, whether the district owns the property now or not. Many towns and districts have cooperated on similar venures in the state, he said, calling it a common practice that is a more efficient operation and a money saver.

McMahon said the Town Board will put the matter on its agenda for its Nov. 5 meeting.

Regarding a shared newsletter, Christmann said the district sends a newsletter six times a year, printed at Erie 1 BOCES. The district receives state aid for its print costs. He asks if the Town Board would like a page or two in the publication because the publication is sent to the same constituents.

“We’re always looking for ways to save costs,” he said.

Councilman Gary Roesch asked about the school’s charges from Time Warner Cable so the town’s Cable Commission could seek to eliminate the district’s burden.

Additionally, Christmann raised the idea of working with the town to help create a channel to televise the school’s programming accessible to anyone in the community. Christmann said the school channel would offer GI a real potential to have concerts and athletic events broadcast.

Councilman Richard Crawford noted that Jack Burns, the district’s transportation director, has joined The town’s traffic safety board, and is a key component. Likewise, McMahon noted in recent years, the town has seen dramatic increase in cooperation with school board and school staff who now sit on several town boards and committees.

“I think that’s good news for the community,” he said. “We’re glad that it’s happening, and it’s a credit to the staff and the administration and the board.”

During the regular Board of Education meeting that followed the joint meeting, the board heard a lengthy report from Gerald P. Glose of the Western New York Service Council regarding a buildings and grounds staffing study. Glose looked at such areas as job descriptions, staffing levels, evaluations procedures and work shifts.

CAPTION:

The fifth Monday of the month is one for a joint meeting of the Grand Island Town Board and the Grand Island Board of Education. The two boards met at the high school this week. (photo by Larry Austin)