School district wants $4,860 from Schuyler

    WATKINS GLEN—The Watkins Glen Central School District wants Schuyler County to pay $4,860, or two percent of a tax installment that the county was four months late in paying to the school.
    During the Monday, Aug. 11, school board meeting, Superintendent Tom Phillips explained Schuyler County owed Watkins Glen the first tax installment of the school year in November, 2010. He said the district should have received $243,000; that is the amount in taxes owed by residents who had not paid. He explained it is the county’s responsibility to provide the missing funds to the district and then charge the residents for the school taxes on the county tax bill.
    Phillips said that according to the law, the county has within 10 days of the Nov. 30 deadline to return the funds. He added that the county gave the money to the school district on April 11, along with a second tax installment which was owed to Watkins at that time.
    Phillips said the district is asking for funds equaling two percent of that first tax installment because the district was never able to put the money in an account and earn interest on it. However, he said the county is saying there is nothing in the law to warrant that, even though Schuyler was four months late in giving the school the tax funds.
    In other business:
    • The board approved an agreement with Welliver as the construction manager for the capital improvement and consolidation project, contingent on if district voters approve the work later this year. Phillips explained Welliver will be part of the planning stage, helping create the consolidation proposal that will be presented to residents.
    • Three resignations were approved: high school social studies teacher Kai D’Alleva, food service helper Patrica Williams and library clerk Vanessa Overbeck.
    • The board approved an agreement with Dr. James Coleman to continue serving as the school physician for the 2011-12 school year. He also declined an increase in his salary.
    The next school board meeting will be Monday, Aug. 15. It is anticipated to start at 6:30 p.m., following a 5:45 p.m. executive session.