Presenter:Dr. Robert Roelle – Superintendent of Schools

Mike Jumper – Katonah Lewisboro Union Free School District

Presenter:Dr. Robert Roelle – Superintendent of Schools

Mike Jumper – Katonah Lewisboro Union Free School District

Katonah Lewisboro Public Schools

Establishment of a Capital ReserveMarch 12, 2009 Board of Education Meeting

The District Needs More Fields

The District Needs More Fields•In 1960 KLSD had 10 athletic teams and our graduating

class numbered 78 students

•In 2007 KLSD had 72 athletic teams and our graduating class numbered 320 students

•In 2007 - 1,388 students participated on athletic teams – in addition our physical education classes and intramural programs utilized our fields

•Our fields are used by numerous community organizations including but not limited to youth football, youth lacrosse, Lewisboro - Soccer, Little League and recreation programs

•There has not been any significant field expansion on the part of the schools since the introduction of Title IX in 1972

•This property is immediately adjacent to the High School…this is a terrific opportunity for the District. The AP Farm Athletic Fields will take significant use/pressure off of the HS and MS fields

The District Needs More Fields continued

The District Needs More Fields continued

•Sports are an important adjunct to our mission as a public school and we recognize the value of sports programs as they relate to the health and wellness of our children

•We want to be able to maximize, to the extent we can, the number of students who participate in sports and intramural programs

•Active/engaged students are healthier, happier, and generally, perform better in school

•The KLSD fields you see today are pretty much the same fields that were created almost 50 years ago - when the KLSD student population was less than ¼ today’s student population

•Our current participation in the sports programs and lack of fields results in the need to transport high school and middle school students all over town for practices and games. We spend approximately $15,000 transporting students a combined 2,600 miles to various athletic fields throughout the District

The Board of Education is seeking

approval from the Katonah Lewisboro

community to Establish a Capital Reserve

The Board of Education is seeking

approval from the Katonah Lewisboro

community to Establish a Capital Reserve

PropositionProposition

(a) Shall the Board of Education of the Katonah-Lewisboro Union Free School District, in the County of Westchester, New York (the “District”) be authorized to establish a Capital Reserve for a period of time not to exceed 10 years to be used for the purpose of developing the AP Farm Athletic Fields and/or renovating other school district fields and/or renovating high school cultural arts facilities and/or renovating other district classrooms and/or replacing boilers or HVAC equipment in district buildings and;

(b) Shall the Board of Education be authorized to fund this Capital Reserve to an amount not to exceed $3,150,000 and;

(c) Shall the Board of Education be authorized to transfer all funds currently in the Repair Reserve – including interest earnings ($3,121,292 as of December 31, 2008 plus interest earnings through March 17, 2009), thereby closing said reserve, to fund this newly established Capital Reserve

Why can’t we just use the funds in the repair reserve to complete this work?

Why can’t we just use the funds in the repair reserve to complete this work?

•In August 2007, following the advice of our prior District counsel, the board increased the Repair Reserve to $3 million with the idea that those funds would be used to improve, in a substantive way, our existing fields

•We have been advised by our current counsel, that the law does not permit us to use Repair Reserve dollars for this extensive level of improvements and development

•Funds expensed from a Repair Reserve are not eligible for State Aid

•In August 2007, following the advice of our prior District counsel, the board increased the Repair Reserve to $3 million with the idea that those funds would be used to improve, in a substantive way, our existing fields

•We have been advised by our current counsel, that the law does not permit us to use Repair Reserve dollars for this extensive level of improvements and development

•Funds expensed from a Repair Reserve are not eligible for State Aid

Cont.Cont.

•Funds within a Repair Reserve can be utilized/exhausted in either one of two ways:

1. The Board may utilize the funds to complete repairs or;2. The Board may ask the community for approval to

transfer these funds into a Capital Reserve

•It would be a violation of State Law for the Board of Education to utilize the funds in a Repair Reserve for any other reason – The Board may not use the funds in a Repair Reserve to reduce taxes

•A repair, by definition is very limited in scope. Any work that extends the life of a building or significantly enhances the value of the property is not considered a repair. Work of this magnitude is considered a capital improvement and can not be funded through the use of a Repair Reserve.

•Funds within a Repair Reserve can be utilized/exhausted in either one of two ways:

1. The Board may utilize the funds to complete repairs or;2. The Board may ask the community for approval to

transfer these funds into a Capital Reserve

•It would be a violation of State Law for the Board of Education to utilize the funds in a Repair Reserve for any other reason – The Board may not use the funds in a Repair Reserve to reduce taxes

•A repair, by definition is very limited in scope. Any work that extends the life of a building or significantly enhances the value of the property is not considered a repair. Work of this magnitude is considered a capital improvement and can not be funded through the use of a Repair Reserve.

Questions/ DiscussionQuestions/ Discussion