GUILDERLAND—Responding to recommendations from a state audit, the school board here formally adopted a corrective action plan last Tuesday.

While the school district basically got a good report from the state comptroller on how it handles its finances, the audit recommended establishing written procedures to segregate the duties of cash collection, cash disbursement, reconciliations, and record-keeping. Treasurer’s duties have been adjusted to provide greater separation of duties, which includes hiring a part-time worker to perform bank reconciliations.

The audit also said buyout payments for unused leave time should be clearly stipulated in bargaining agreements and the board agreed they will be.

Also, the policy committee will review the Meals and Refreshments Policy to make sure the language reflects the board’s intent. And, finally, the district is in the process of developing a disaster recovery plan for its computerized data.

Other business

In other business, the school board:

— Heard from Superintendent John McGuire that a contingent including the state’s education commissioner, Richard Mills, and Sir Michael Barber visited Guilderland High School and Westmere Elementary School on Friday, Jan. 11, talking with students and staff.
McGuire said that the commissioner graciously suggested "Guilderland is a beacon of excellence" and he was interested in replicating work at Guilderland across the state;

— Accepted Ricoh Corporation’s $20,638.80 bid for 840 cases of copy paper, which was about $100 lower than the only other bid, from W.B. Mason;

— Agreed to participate in a cooperative bid for the purchase of Chevrolet Suburbans to transport students.
"This is an opportunity to leverage some buying power," said Assistant Superintendent for Business Neil Sanders, adding, "We still have the right of refusal";

— Agreed to establish the Gregory J. Aidala Scholarship Fund to recognize two graduating students who maintain an 85 average, participate in service learning activities, and plan to attend college to pursue a major in education.

Aidala retired last fall after serving as Guilderland’s superintendent for seven years.

Board member Barbara Fraterrigo said that most academic scholarships are given to students who have an average of 90 or above.

Board President Richard Weisz responded that Aidala wanted to expand the number of eligible students and that, from Aidala’s perspective, there are valuable students who don’t do better than 85.
"Having raised one of those," said Weisz, "I know what he’s talking about." He then thanked the Aidala family;

— Accepted Bill Maffia’s donation of a desktop scanner and two musical instruments — an alto sax and a recorder;

— Appointed five volunteers to the Citizens’ Budget Advisory committee — newcomer Yayin Chu-Reimer, and returning members Anderson Bryan, Donald Csaposs, Karen Keane, and Mark Owen.
"If you’ve been reading the papers lately, we need a lot of help," said Weisz, appealing to others to join the committee, which listens to administrators present next year’s budget over a half-dozen televised sessions, and offers comments;

— Agreed with Fraterrigo’s suggestion to write a letter objecting to the New York State School Boards Association’s support of an initiative to put a tax on all Internet sales, with the proceeds earmarked for education.
Fraterrigo, who attended the recent NYSSBA convention, said, "None of this was even mentioned." She called the tax regressive.
"Whenever I hear ‘funds dedicated to education,’ it’s smoke and mirrors, folks," said Vice President John Dornbush.
"The timing is bad," said board member Hy Dubowsky, noting that, with the sluggish economy, the added tax would do "exactly the opposite of encouraging people to spend."
Weisz urged McGuire to write that the board was "disappointed."
Board member Denise Eisele asked, "Can we use a stronger word than disappointed""
"Shocked" and "appalled" were suggested;
— Heard praise from both Eisele and board member Catherine Barber for music teacher Shannon deFrancqueville, who was given tenure. Eisele said she worked well not just with general-education students but with special-education students, too, offering "another avenue to reach these kids." She applauded her "for being very creative";

— Heard from Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Nancy Andress that Guilderland’s first Parent and Child Wellness Fair will be held on Feb. 27 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the high school. The free event will feature over 40 vendors along with music, food, sports, and wellness demonstrations;

— Learned that Farnsworth Middle School science teachers Jennifer Ford and Alan Fiero have been awarded a grant for $25,370 from the State Farm Youth Advisory Board to expand and improve the study of local biodiversity with a focus on the rare Pine Bush ecosystem; and

— Met in executive session to discuss a student issue.