Great Neck Public Schools Superintendent Kenneth Bossert discussed changes the school district would be facing in the future due to shifts at the state level, including foundation aid formula alterations and new teacher evaluation systems.

State foundation aid was the main focal point for school districts this past budget season as many were proposed to receive cuts in this aid for the first time since it was offered. Those funds were eventually reinstated, however, when the state budget was passed by the New York legislature in April.

But Gov. Kathy Hochul has stated that efforts to change the state aid formula will progress and be implemented next year.

Bossert addressed continued concerns over changing state aid formulas at the Board of Education meeting Wednesday night.

The superintendent said that although Great Neck is not as reliant on state aid as other local school districts are, state aid formula changes will still impact the Great Neck public schools.

School enrollment has been declining for more than half of the school districts on the North Shore in the past decade, but Great Neck is one of six districts with a growing enrollment. From 2012 to 2023, Great Neck’s enrollment increased by 3.6%.

While formula aid changes may diminish funding in the future to address falling enrollments, eliminating the hold harmless model of ensuring the same amount or more is awarded EVERY YEAR?, Bossert argued funds still need to be maintained as educational costs rise.

“Even when enrollment is declining, the needs of the students and the complexity of the services we are providing is increasing,” Bossert said. “Therefore the costs of educating even a smaller number of students has increased tremendously since the foundation aid formula was initially calculated.”

Bossert said he was invited to join a work-study group on the foundation aid formula and is working with other educators and finance professionals to provide recommendations on the state aid formula.

He also talked about the state bill passed in May to give more local control of APPR, the annual performance evaluation system for teachers and principals, which he said has been requested for more than a decade.

“This news is long overdue,” Bossert said.

Bossert said the district can now collaborate with its bargaining units to establish an evaluation system that reflects professional development, best practices and the quality of instruction. He said the community will also be able to provide input.

The evaluation system has been criticized widely for its linking of student test scores to the teacher’s evaluation.

“Which most educators felt was unjust and unfair,” Bossert said.

The evaluation system will still need to follow New York State Education Department guidelines, which Bossert said have not been released yet.

He said conversations on establishing a new evaluation system have already begun.

The Great Neck Board of Education also honored various students and sports teams for an array of accomplishments.

Recognitions included Scripps National Spelling Bee finalist and North High Middle School student Victor Yang, Social Impact Leader of Tomorrow Challenge winners, South High boys and girls fencing, South High girls badminton, South High girls golf and 61 South High students.

“The diverse illustration of the accomplishments present in this room tonight is not lost on any of us,” Bossert said. “From a sixth-grade spelling champion to a fencing team to our quality-of-life winners, you all demonstrate what is the best of Great Neck Public Schools.”