High School Preparing For Middle States Assessment

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Cazenovia Central Schools recently completed the School Property Tax collection period for the 1999-2000 school year. This year taxpayers saved $787,330 under the New York State STAR program. The STAR program offers qualifying taxpayers property tax exemptions (at full value) of $10,000 for a basic exemption and $50,000 for an Enhanced Exemption.

Next year the Basic Exemption will increase to $20,000 for each qualifying taxpayer and this exemption will increase again to $30,000 in 2001. The Enhanced Exemption of $50,000 will also continue next year and beyond. It is estimated that taxpayers in the Cazenovia Central School District will save $1,189,000 in 2000 and $1,591,000 in 2001 due to the STAR program.

STAR RECAP

Basic Exemption:

• No income restrictions.
• Exemption phased in over three years.
• Exemption equals $10,000 in 1999, $20,000 in 2000, and $30,000 in 2001. This exemption will remain at $30,000 in 2002 and beyond. 

Enhanced Exemption:

Application must be filed each year.

• For property owners 65 years of age or older, with incomes under $60,000.
• Exemption equals $50,000.
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STAR exemption applications must be filed with your assessor's office by March 1 or you will not receive this exemption. It is the responsibility of the property owner to file STAR exemption applications in order to receive either the Basic Exemption or the Enhanced Exemption.

Assessors and Phone Numbers:

Village & Town of Cazenovia Steve Harris 315-655-9213

Town of Fenner Randy Deal 607-594-3666

Town of Sullivan Raymond Mann 315-687-7222

Town of Georgetown Larry Fitts 315-684-9052

Town of Nelson Priscilla Suits 315-655-4866

Town of Pompey Larry Fitts 315-682-1169 or 682-9877

Town of Lincoln Denise Trudell 315-697-9910

The faculty and staff at Cazenovia High School have begun mobilizing in preparation for a visit next October by a team of evaluators from the Middle States Accreditation organization.

The Middle States Accreditation process is conducted once every 10 years in effort to assure the public that educational institutions meet educationally sound standards. "The process makes certain that educational institutions are what they claim to be," said Robert Read, high school language department leader and chairman of this edition of Cazenovia's Middle States Steering Committee. "Local colleges know the quality of education students receive at Cazenovia but students now go to college far beyond Central New York. This accreditation validates our program for all to see."

Mr. Read said the last time Cazenovia underwent a Middle States Evaluation the process was far different than the current program, now called "Continual School Improvement." Previously, the evaluation process looked at what you had done," he said. "Continuous School Improvement focuses on goal development, the implementation of those goals, and ultimately school improvement. Right now we are looking for measurable goals for self-improvement."

When Mr. Read uses the word "we" he is including 155 faculty members, 29 high school parents, and 49 Cazenovia High School students. Each participant has been assigned to sit on one of 19 different committees which will be studying everything from the student activities at the high school to the school's general philosophy. The process is being directed by a steering committee consisting of high school principal Dan Nolan, assistant principal Tim Riemer, Mr. Read, Tim Ahern, a community parent, and Mary Kate McCullough, a student at the high school.

The different committees are divided into four categories. The first category, called the "Philosophy and Mission Statement Category," includes a community committee which has the goal of providing a picture of what the community is like, support for the educational program, auxiliary services available, etc. The second committee is the school committee which will provide an overall picture of what the school is like.

The second category of committees fall under the title of "Instructional Standards." These committees include the following: School Philosophy, Educational Programs, Learning Media Services, Student Activities, and Assessment of Learning.

The third category, titled "Organizational Standards" consists of the following committees: Staff and Administration, Leadership and Governance, Student Services, Facilities, and Finance.

The fourth category of committees is titled "Academics." These committees relate to subject areas and include English, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, Consumer Science, Computer Science and Technology, and Foreign Language.

Each committee has been given a list of questions which explore a variety of issues as they relate to each subcommittee. "It's not as simple as saying, yes Cazenovia offers a variety of student activities," Mr. Read said. "Each question must be researched and data must be provided which supports how each committee answers all of the questions it has been asked. It's a difficult task to prove each answer. The process makes you look at yourself and what we have done well, realizing you can always get better. A school must have goals and continue to move forward."

Committees began meeting last month and started to collect information. On Friday, January 28 each committee will wrap-up their reports and finalize their committee goals. In early February chairmen from each of the committees will meet with the steering committee to present their reports. In addition, at that meeting 10 committees will be selected to develop a five year action plan which includes an update report at two and a half years. This will be presented to the Middle States Evaluation team which visit Cazenovia next October. Of the 10 areas selected to present in October five must be representative of instructional areas. During the second five years of the accreditation the remaining 10 areas are expected to be developed.