LCSD to distribute portable Wi-Fi hotspots to families in need
By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
As the coronavirus pandemic keeps schools shuttered indefinitely with budget and school board votes on hold, the Liverpool Central School District Board of Education met via Zoom on April 20 to discuss the shutdown and the 2020-21 budget.
Superintendent Dr. Mark Potter said when the board last met, the district was facing a gap of about $4 million for next year’s budget. That gap has now been closed thanks to program reductions, a proposed restructuring of custodial staff and the elimination of about 15 positions through attrition.
“We’re going to try to slow-play hiring as long as we can,” Potter said, adding that the district is looking into bringing back retirees to fill positions rather than seek all-new hires.
Potter expressed concern about a provision in the New York state budget deal that allows the state to take back school aid to balance its budget.
“There are reserves in case [the governor] tries to take money to balance the state budget on the backs of school districts,” Potter said.
Liverpool’s unrestricted fund balance is about 4% of its total budget, Potter said. The district has not yet published the budget draft on its website, but the 2019-20 budget was more than $160 million.
“We’re trying to create a budget that has some flexibility in it for the future,” he said.
The BOE will vote on the 2020-21 budget at its next meeting, which takes place at 7 p.m. Monday, May 4. Visit liverpool.k12.ny.us to view livestreams of BOE meetings.
District copes with COVID-19
Potter also updated the BOE on how the district is dealing with COVID-19 cancellations and the challenges that come with distance learning.
The Liverpool High School Junior Prom, which had been slated for May 9 at the Holiday Inn, has been canceled. The district has not yet canceled the Senior Ball (June 13) or postponed graduation (June 20), but Potter said a backup graduation date has been chosen in July. Graduation is to take place once again at the New York State Fairgrounds Exposition Center.
Distance learning, childcare and meal distribution continue as the pandemic rages on.
Potter said that since distance learning began in March, the district has found that about 100 families do not have access to the internet. The district is supplying these families with portable Wi-Fi hotspots and students in grades 1 through 12 have access to Chromebooks.
“This situation has shown the true divide of class in education. If you can’t access the internet, you can’t do your schoolwork,” BOE member Nick Blaney said. “Food delivery — we know how much that means to our kids.”
Looking ahead to brighter days, the BOE is considering approval of the formation of a middle school robotics club, which would be hosted by Soule Road Middle School and open to all middle schoolers in the LCSD. Liverpool’s Arctic Warriors Robotics Team was founded in 1998 at Liverpool High School and holds VEX Robotics competitions. VEX IQ competitions are open to students in grades 4 through 8, so the SRM robotics club would participate in those.
