To the Editor:

Now that the second half of our school year has begun, our attention shifts to budget development and planning for the 2017-18 school year.

Over the coming months, the Berne-Knox-Westerlo Board of Education and I will work on crafting a spending plan for 2017-18 that builds on the momentum we’ve gained over the past year. Financial stability and good academic leadership have allowed us to add a number of programs, like the Elementary School Writing Program, our new Agricultural Science courses, and additional supports and Advanced Placement [college-level] courses at the secondary school.

We want to keep our focus on students as we develop next year’s budget and are looking to add the next level of Ag Science courses, and new extra-curricular programs at both schools, like robotics, coding, and the Future Farmers of America program. Because reading is critical in young and developing learners, we’re also looking at programs to prevent the “summer slide” while students are on break.

We truly want you to be part of this process. Attend board of education meetings, visit our website, and follow us on Facebook to see the process in action and participate in the discussion. Some of these discussions may be difficult, but they are worth having.

We have unique challenges at BKW, and to address them we must speak honestly, with candor and with passion.  If we are going to set our children up for success, we can’t dismiss or discount the real needs that our children face when they walk through our doors.

We have an obligation prepare students for their future, not our past. But we must also recognize that past actions have shaped the reality we now find ourselves in. From 2010 to 2016, the state withheld more than $6 million in aid from BKW. That led to cuts in academic programs and loss of educational opportunity for our students. It also led to a higher share of our costs being shifted to you, the local taxpayer.

We don’t want either of those things.

While we can’t change that past, we can influence our future. In the governor’s budget proposal for this year, BKW would see a slight increase over last year. While we’re thankful for any increase in aid, we’re also looking forward to the State Legislature’s work in hopes of securing additional state aid for our district.

You can help. Be an advocate for the children of the Hilltowns by reaching out to your legislators and letting them know that BKW schools should be fully funded. In the coming days, you’ll see resources available on our website that will help you contact your elected representatives and let them know that BKW, in whatever state budget emerges, should be fully funded.

If you don’t have internet access, you can always reach out to the district at (518) 872-0909.

This is an exciting time to be in the BKW School District. The vision for our students is to provide modern facilities and sound management, resulting in a world-class education. We encourage you to lend your voice to that vision.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support of our students and staff.

Dr. Timothy Mundell

Superintendent

Berne-Knox-Westerlo

Central School District