The Board of Education’s most pressing issues in February have included the potential resolution to the Ithaca Teacher Association’s collective bargaining agreement with ICSD, the water contamination in Enfield and Caroline schools, the lack of special education staff in the district, and the new budget for TST BOCES.

1. Teachers’ salaries

Much of the public comments during the past several meetings have been made by teachers. Several spoke out in the board room filled with teachers, who tacitly supported their colleagues with provocative signs emblazoned with statistics. Some even brought their children with them, protesting the proposed agreement that would only retroactively pay teachers for this school year. Teachers emphasized their desire for a long-term commitment and appreciation, saying that this agreement was only a first step. The BoE responded that with the Gap Elimination Adjustment and other budget cuts, it was difficult to make ends meet.

2. Water contamination

Recently at Caroline and Enfield Elementary Schools, high levels of lead were found at several faucets and drinking fountain, ranging far above the state’s limit of 15 parts per billion and up to 200 ppb. The public’s outrage stemmed more from the fact that a previous test for lead in August that showed lead levels between zero and 15 ppb was not made known to the public until early 2016. The district has put water coolers next to water fountains in all schools.

3. Dwindling special education department

Several members of the district’s special education departments presented the current status of special education students under the 504 plan, raising the issues of deficient budget allotment and staffing. In some schools, class aides are forced to go between seven different classes in one day, preventing them from interacting closely with students or connecting with teachers on lesson plans. A survey of parents and school staff in February showed the need for improvements as to how ICSD handles communication and co-teaching within the district. Deputy Superintendent Matthew Landahl explained that his team will hold seminars to address inclusion in class and push for required training for teachers and administrators.

4. The expansion and evolution of TST BOCES

There have been plans to update class curriculums, integrate services with the rest of the district, and cross contracts with other schools to increase opportunities for students. There has also been a 3.72-percent increase in TST BOCES’ income—approximately $1.6 million—to outside groups, such as IHS, utilizing their services and smart investments. With this money, BOCES hopes to create more classrooms to service special needs students, expand its middle-school and adult programs, and distribute more grant money to fund class projects. Despite this growth, BOCES has been seeing more loss than usual due to the increase in need for retirement packages and unemployment insurance.