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Board holds public hearing on Contract for Excellence allocation; funds tied to tutoring, class-size and teacher quality
Summary
District officials presented the state-mandated "Contract for Excellence" allocation, explaining the set-aside of foundation aid for increased time on task, reduced class size, improved teacher/principal quality, and middle/high school needs; the required 30-day public comment period and web posting were announced.
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — The Binghamton City School District held a mandatory public hearing June 10 on the state-directed "Contract for Excellence" allocation and outlined how the district plans to use the set-aside portion of foundation aid.
Dr. Thompson (presenter) explained the money is not new aid but a required portion of foundation aid that the state has directed certain districts to allocate to four areas: increasing time on task for students, reducing class size, improving teacher and principal quality, and addressing middle- and high-school needs. "It's not new money. This is money we're already receiving as part of foundation aid," Dr. Thompson said, describing the program as a targeted use of existing foundation funds.
District staff showed a multi-year phasing plan that increases the amount set aside gradually and said program expenditures include support for the BATS ninth- and tenth-grade program, k–3 class-size reductions, interventionists, and coaching. Jennifer (district presenter) said the contract guidance allows districts to upload rubrics and examples of how funds support those four goals; materials explaining the program and the district's allocations will be posted on the district website for a 30-day public comment period (June 6–July 7) with a Google form for feedback.
During board discussion, staff and members emphasized tutoring and intervention as high-impact strategies. "The greatest advancement... is tutoring," a presenter said, noting the district already uses several tutoring resources, including an online tutor.com program, partnerships with Binghamton University and internal tutors, and planned literacy supports at middle school.
The board opened the public hearing and had no public speakers at the meeting before closing the hearing; staff said the online comment form will remain open for 30 days and the contract materials will appear on the district website. No formal board vote on the contract allocation was taken at the meeting; staff said the item will remain available for public comment ahead of future board agenda items in July.
