Really bad.
In years past, Haldane voters have supported school budgets because the alternative—the contingency budget—meant a similar tax increase with unacceptable spending restrictions. Voters reasonably figured that voting against the budget was equivalent to shooting themselves in the foot.
Things are very different this year, and the consequences could be far worse.
The CPI is set at 0% this year, which would mean that a contingency budget would require cuts. Superintendent Mark Villanti estimates these cuts would be approximately $800,000. Schools are not permitted to pick and choose where they cut spending, either. Teacher salaries, benefits, and existing contracts must be honored by law.
So where will the cuts occur?
Everywhere else.
This year, for the first time, a contingency budget threatens not only extra-curricular activities, but programs and staff positions as well. $800K is a lot to cut from a $20+ million dollar budget.
At the next Board of Education meeting on February 23, 2010 the Board will go over the spending plan in detail, and some time time after that a draft budget document will be made available to the public for examination. The Board needs to hear from the public during this difficult budget year.
Please return here often for updates and information about the budget planning process.
3 comments:
What can parents do other than get upset and protest? Can some of the cut programs be funded by the Haldane foundation? Can parents volunteer to teach some after-school classes? I can offer my help with Math, Art and foreign language teaching (Russian).
roman_danilov@yahoo.com
Thank you for your question! The most important thing you can do is arm yourself with the facts and information about the budget. At the next Board workshop (2/23/10) there will be a lot of discussion about each and every item in the proposed spending plan.
To answer your question about Foundation funding, as generous as the Foundation is with enrichment programs for Haldane, I believe their charter would forbid them from paying for regular budget items, such as salaries. Plus, their annual fundraising, while very impressive, would not come close to touching the $800K that could be lost through a defeated budget.
As for parents offering to help teach after school: the state of New York would not approve. Teachers must have credentials, and it would not be legal for the school to permit parents to take over where teachers belong.
The only way to avoid spending cuts is to make sure the budget is approved. Know that this will mean your property taxes will also go up. It is a very tough problem and needs attention to legislative reform of existing laws which govern how schools operate.
All that being said, you spoke some powerfully generous words with your offers to help the school. Thank you for sharing!
Meeting has been rescheduled to Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 7:00 pm due to weather conditions and early dismissal.
Post a Comment