November 8, 2007

            At long last, here are the instructions and forms you have been waiting for. 

            Enclosed you will find the Reimbursement Guidelines including all forms you need to  submit in order to receive your funding for the period ended September 30, 2007 and upcoming periods.  There are links for future needs as well.  These forms are the Standard Vouchers, Expenditure Report, and two types of Budget Modification requests.

            If you have submitted a budget modification request and have not received a response, you must resubmit using this form.  Please note, if there is a shift of funds being requested from one area to another that is greater then 10 percent of the original line item value or $1,000 whichever is greater, there will be a need to do a Contract Amendment.  If you are considering this, please review all budget areas to avoid having to do multiple amendments during the life of this contract. 

            I have heard from many of you and I am working hard to make preliminary contacts with each of you to see how things are going.  I am hearing mostly great, positive things.   Many of you have shared brochures you have developed, and provided quick updates on the status of your program and great ideas you have implemented.  I am delighted in what I have been hearing.  Keep up the great work.

            Many of you have inquired about the type funds we are using for this program.  At this time, VESID is funding the MTP utilizing State dollars.   This revenue should be reported on the ST 3 on the special aid fund under F3289, Other State Aid. See Schedule B2, line 14.

            The other inquiry which many of you have put forth is in the area of funds not spent in the first three months of the contract period.  I have consulted our fiscal staff and have been told to encourage you all to spend the funds within the 3 ½ year contract period, and within the goals of the RFP/contract award.  VESID cannot guarantee that an extension is possible as some of you may have heard me say as an option.

All this and more will be posted on the VESID Web page within the next two weeks.  Go to http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/ and click on the Model Transition Program (MTP) link.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth Hamel

Enclosure