Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the District Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District forms five workgroups to seek revenue, partnerships and potential $360,000 energy savings
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Terranova described a 28-member community committee that formed five subgroups to pursue legacy gifts, sales-tax advocacy (including a potential half‑point county sales-tax proposal), educational partnerships, a community-education program and environmental/efficiency measures; district staff cited a potential $360,000 annual savings from broader energy work.
Superintendent Dr. Terranova briefed the board on a yearlong effort to identify new revenue streams and partnerships to narrow the district's persistent gap between expenses and revenue.
He said a 28-member community committee formed five subgroups that have been meeting since December to develop actionable ideas: legacy and major-gift fundraising; other revenue (including renewed sales-tax advocacy and an exploratory concept for a home-closing fee); educational-program partnerships with groups such as the VTA, colleges and surrounding districts; a community-education program to better coordinate outside‑of‑school usage of campus facilities; and an environmental/efficiency subgroup exploring lighting, geothermal and solar.
On the sales-tax idea, Terranova said the subgroup is considering building a regional coalition of superintendents and business officials to pursue a county-level sales-tax increase (a half‑percentage point was discussed as an example) that could direct a share to school districts. He emphasized the concept is exploratory and would require county and legislative engagement.
The environmental and savings subgroup reported early modeling that, if expanded beyond small rooftop panels, could yield significant savings; Terranova mentioned a figure of roughly $360,000 per year as a potential savings target if the district pursues the right mix of solar and efficiency projects and secures outside study support (including possible NYSERDA funding for a flex‑tech study).
Trustees asked questions about geothermal (one trustee noted Calkins Road Middle School as a local example) and about timelines: the superintendent said the groups will continue work, with the goal of producing recommendations by summer and reporting results and recommended actions to the board by September 2026.
No formal action was taken; the report established direction for continued study and outreach.
