March 19 Meeting--Budget Update

Following a brief presentation by Mark Fobare of Monolith Solar, Superintendent Villanti proceeded to outline the bleak options which face the district in budgeting the 2013-2014 spending plan. The school community has been hearing for several years that the financial pressure from Cap, Gap and unfunded mandates would eventually lead us to educational and fiscal insolvency. In order to balance the school budget, spending cuts are necessary. Pending the finalized New York State budget, which could alter some of Haldane's final decisions, Dr. Villanti listed the spending cuts in Budget Proposal #3:

• Eliminate summer school
• Decrease in Special Education tuitions
• Decrease in Athletic budget
• Decrease in Operations and Maintenance Budget
• Decrease in classroom equipment and supplies
• Support staff reductions
• Classroom instruction reductions
• Benefit reductions (related to staff reductions)

Specific staff changes that are of perhaps the greatest concern to the school community involve the decision to keep three sections of Kindergarten and the decision to cut the "bubble" class. Dr. Villanti stated that he sees no other way to balance the budget without this cut. Board President Mike Junjulas concurred, reminding the audience that he is also the parent of a "bubble" class student. 

In a surprise show of support and confidence in the budget process, Jen Wilson announced that Haldane's Administrative Association members agreed to accept a pay freeze next year. Budget implications from this announcement are unknown at this time.