In North Rockland, educators took the first word of the state's Contract for Excellence program very seriously.

"For us, it really was a contract — a negotiated process that represented what all sides believed to be the best way to target state funding and do what's best for our students," said North Rockland TA President Robin Brennan. "That spirit of collaboration really worked for us. We're a great example of what can happen when a district asks teachers how they believe funding will best be spent."

North Rockland emerged as a model C4E district as NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira recently traveled around the state to get a front-line look at implementation of the state's Contract for Excellence program.

The new accountability program requires targeted districts to sign contracts with the state detailing how their foundation aid increase will be spent on certain eligible activities to improve student achievement. This year, North Rockland was one of 55 C4E districts.

Neira was impressed with what she saw. "It's not the same around the state," she said. "In this case, the administration, school board and local union leaders developed plans that actually help students. They did it together."

North Rockland used its $2 million in C4E funding on a new mentoring program for all new teachers and long-term substitutes. "We just had a celebration event and all the participants said they got so much out of the mentoring and on-going support," Brennan said.

The district was able to expand after-school academic programs and institute Academic Intervention Services K-12. The district also bought 90 laptop computers and hired a technology teacher to support a new remedial reading and writing program.

North Rockland became eligible for the program after subgroups of students, including English language learners and students with disabilities, did not show Adequate Yearly Progress on state standardized tests.

In the upcoming school year, Brennan said, the district plans to continue the C4E-funded programs now in place and keep track of how students receiving the new services are improving academically.

In the spirit of cooperation, local union members are working hard to urge residents to approve the proposed school budget, which actually reduces the tax levy by 3.3 percent for homeowners.

Brennan said one dissident board member has suggested the district use the C4E funding to further reduce the property tax, but that is not a legal use.

"The board member's negative approach has galvanized many of our members and people in the community to support the budget and pro-education candidates for the board," Brennan said.

— Sylvia Saunders