POPLAR RIDGE - With the clock winding down as its budget comes due this month, the Southern Cayuga Central School District spent Monday's board meeting focused on the “substantial” rise in its BOCES allocation.

While BOCES assistant financial superintendent David Boyle predicts nearly an 1 percent increase for the organization from last year's budget, this affects school districts differently.

The board estimated this cost escalation will translate to an 8 percent hike from last year for the 15 programs the district utilizes. Board President Ted Rejman called the preliminary figure a “substantial amount.”

The district spent almost $1.5 million on BOCES services last year.

“It sounds like a small increase for you, but it's a lot of ka-ching. That translates to a big increase for us,” he told BOCES representatives.

Boyle and Assistant Superintendent of Educational Programs Greg Hinman fielded questions from board members on the program and its efforts to keep costs down.

Rejman pointed to areas where the organization could find savings, which then could be passed on to the nine participating school districts. He pointed to bidding out the health care provider contracts, which could result in a better deal. They last switched companies eight years ago, Boyle said.

The organization's health committee and Board of Directors have not decided to put the health contract out to bid since then, Boyle said. Members from school districts and other related

organizations make up the board and committee.

“Well, let me just ask you this. When's the last time you bid out your personal physician,” Boyle asked hypothetically.

“We just did that last year,” Rejman answered. “Things change.”

Boyle also reminded the board that the district enrolls many “high cost” students in the programs. Utilizing the BOCES system allows for district to educate these students in the most cost-efficient way possible - by pooling resources.

Also, BOCES does not keep surplus money after the end of the fiscal year. It returns any money not spent during the year back to the school districts, Boyle added.

The school board aims to adopt a budget on Monday, April 23. They will meet to discuss the curriculum in the schools Monday.

“Are we utilizing staff efficiently? Can we do anything differently,” Rejman hypothetically posed questions that the board will address next week.

In other news:

* The board unanimously approved an extension for the retiree incentives.

This might help undecided employees decide about retiring because the district will not offer the incentive for three years, member Marian Brown said.

A full-time worker can receive a lump sum of $10,000 and $25 per each sick day, with a maximum payment of $15,000. Likewise, a part-time employee can receive $5,000 and $15 per sick day, with a maximum payout of $10,000.

Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311, ext 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net