FIRST Robotics, Student Services, staff development, fringe benefits discussed at BOE
NORWICH – Continuing its 2011-2012 focus on students, academics and finances, the Norwich City School District Board of Education on Monday heard presentations by the Chenango County FIRST Robotics team, Student Services counselors and Assistant Superintendent Rob Wightman, who laid out the district’s staff development and fringe benefits costs.
The Chenango County FIRST TR-X 145 team – which consists of 18 students from the Norwich, Unadilla Valley, Sherburne-Earlville and Otselic Valley school districts – presented a short video detailing this year’s FIRST Robotics Competition challenge, Rebound Rumble. Last year, the team placed fourth out of 43 teams from across the nation, designing, building, programming and testing its robot over the course of six weeks to complete a specific engineering challenge.
The program, said members of the group, aims to inspire students to “pursue an interest and appreciation for science and technology” and promotes teamwork, cooperation and commitment. The team, they added, works together with a group of mentors Monday through Saturday, dedicating hundreds of hours to the project. In March, the team will travel to the Rochester Institute of Technology for its regional competition.
Norwich High School Student Services counselors Kelly Colosi, Tracy Maynard, Amanda Clark and Andrea Kramarczyk – in addition to counselors from both Perry Browne and Stanford Gibson – next presented an analysis of the district’s Student Assistance Teams and Student Services, breaking the latter down into what they called the four C’s: Counseling, Curriculum, Consultation and Collaboration.
According to the group, students of all ages benefit through Student Services in a number of ways, whether it’s transitioning from the high school to the college level, applying for scholarships, looking for a job or just sitting down to discuss personal or social issues. Motivating high school students from day one of their freshman year is crucial, said the group, which addresses some key issues students are facing on a daily basis, from peer conflicts to bullying, test anxiety, depression, boyfriend and girlfriend issues and suicidal thoughts. And counselors do much more than just sit down with students, contacting parents by phone or letter, making home visits, networking with teachers and administration and – in general – addressing any and all student concerns.
Said Kramarczyk, “We are constantly working with all of the different people involved in students’ lives.”
Deputy Superintendent Robert Wightman next presented the district’s staff development costs, which represent approximately 3.5 percent of its yearly budget. From payroll to contractual costs, supplies and BOCES services, the total impact on the district budget was approximately $181,600 in 2009-2010; $165,500 in 2010-2011 and projected at $134,200 for 2011-2012.
Fringe benefits – many of which are mandated by the state – make up more than 70 percent of the district’s budget, reported Wightman, and have consistently increased over the past three years. Those benefits, including ERS and TRS Pensions, FICA/Medicare, workers compensation, unemployment and health insurance, broke down as follows: approximately $6.3 million in 2009-2010; $7.1 million in 2010-2011 and $8.7 million for 2011-2012.
Wightman’s review of the district’s budget has now covered approximately $32 million of its $37 million total, he added.
The Chenango County FIRST TR-X 145 team – which consists of 18 students from the Norwich, Unadilla Valley, Sherburne-Earlville and Otselic Valley school districts – presented a short video detailing this year’s FIRST Robotics Competition challenge, Rebound Rumble. Last year, the team placed fourth out of 43 teams from across the nation, designing, building, programming and testing its robot over the course of six weeks to complete a specific engineering challenge.
The program, said members of the group, aims to inspire students to “pursue an interest and appreciation for science and technology” and promotes teamwork, cooperation and commitment. The team, they added, works together with a group of mentors Monday through Saturday, dedicating hundreds of hours to the project. In March, the team will travel to the Rochester Institute of Technology for its regional competition.
Norwich High School Student Services counselors Kelly Colosi, Tracy Maynard, Amanda Clark and Andrea Kramarczyk – in addition to counselors from both Perry Browne and Stanford Gibson – next presented an analysis of the district’s Student Assistance Teams and Student Services, breaking the latter down into what they called the four C’s: Counseling, Curriculum, Consultation and Collaboration.
According to the group, students of all ages benefit through Student Services in a number of ways, whether it’s transitioning from the high school to the college level, applying for scholarships, looking for a job or just sitting down to discuss personal or social issues. Motivating high school students from day one of their freshman year is crucial, said the group, which addresses some key issues students are facing on a daily basis, from peer conflicts to bullying, test anxiety, depression, boyfriend and girlfriend issues and suicidal thoughts. And counselors do much more than just sit down with students, contacting parents by phone or letter, making home visits, networking with teachers and administration and – in general – addressing any and all student concerns.
Said Kramarczyk, “We are constantly working with all of the different people involved in students’ lives.”
Deputy Superintendent Robert Wightman next presented the district’s staff development costs, which represent approximately 3.5 percent of its yearly budget. From payroll to contractual costs, supplies and BOCES services, the total impact on the district budget was approximately $181,600 in 2009-2010; $165,500 in 2010-2011 and projected at $134,200 for 2011-2012.
Fringe benefits – many of which are mandated by the state – make up more than 70 percent of the district’s budget, reported Wightman, and have consistently increased over the past three years. Those benefits, including ERS and TRS Pensions, FICA/Medicare, workers compensation, unemployment and health insurance, broke down as follows: approximately $6.3 million in 2009-2010; $7.1 million in 2010-2011 and $8.7 million for 2011-2012.
Wightman’s review of the district’s budget has now covered approximately $32 million of its $37 million total, he added.
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