The Bethlehem Central School District is set to lose an additional $64,400 in state aid after building aid was recalculated for school districts across the state to reflect the lowered interest rates for capital projects.
The decrease in aid means the school district is now facing a larger budget gap of about $5.01 million. Under the state’s tax cap formula, the district can now raise taxes by 3.75 percent, an increase from the previously projected rate of 3.64 percent.
The district is planning to use $1.75 million in savings to help close the gap. If the school board were to put forth a budget with a tax increase at the maximum allowable limit of 3.75 percent, the district would still need to close a gap of $1.04 million through reductions.
“Each time these reductions go up, it becomes harder and harder to support our programmatic offerings,” said Superintendent Tom Douglas at the school board’s latest budget deliberations on Wednesday, March 6. “The district has already reduced over 120 positions over the last four years.”
Douglas said no one expected to see a fourth year of reductions to the tune of $1 million. He said district officials last year expected there to be no need for reductions after increasing taxes by 4 percent — above the tax cap — and using some savings.
Assistant Superintendent of Educational Programs Jody Monroe presented a list of instructional and staffing reductions suggested if the board elects to keep the tax hike at 3.75 percent. The district could potentially see the loss of up to 6.5 full-time employees, for a savings of $393,400.
“I know it’s not easy for you all to sit here listening to potential reductions, it’s also not easy to be in charge of the instructional programs, recommending we reduce every single year,” said Monroe to an audience filled with parents, teachers and supportstaff. “Unfortunately, given the state aid picture, we’re forced to make decisions that we don’t like to do.”
The recommendation includes reducing staff in the subjects of English, science, art, foreign language and physical education at the high school level. The plan also calls for the reduction of a librarian, a social worker, a monitor and a guidance counselor.
Monroe said a new plan could potentially be enacted at the high school level to allow students who participate in two or more sports to drop physical education class, thereby reducing the number of classes taught. Action would need to be taken by the school board to change school code.
If the school board decides to set the tax increase lower than the maximum allowable limit, the district could see the loss of up to nine additional full-time positions at the elementary and middle school levels and a 20 percent reduction to electives. This plan would see the sixth grade schedule reduced by one period and middle school students taking fewer sections of foreign language and physical education. These changes would save $652,000.
Monroe said previous reductions to staff have already led to larger class sizes, less specialized attention from teachers, the loss of class offerings and a drop in standardized test scores.
District officials also offered further potential reductions to the district’s operations and athletics budgets beside $260,000 in cuts recommended earlier in the month. An operations and maintenance supervisor could be cut and the district could reduce sports levels from three to two for a combined savings of $180,000.
“Everyone here is trying to do everything they can to preserve one of our most sacred trusts — our students. And the education of that youth for a great tomorrow,” said Douglas, pushing for greater advocacy to state lawmakers to restore aid.
David Rounds, the president of the Bethlehem Central Teacher’s Association, said he sympathized with the board because they have been “boxed in” by the state legislature.
“Every person in this community has done their job, it’s the State of New York that’s not, specifically the governor,” he said in response to the last-minute aid reduction.
“Given the fact that you’ve been forced into this situation, I urge you to make the best of those decisions,” Rounds said to the school board. “There’s a lot of pressure on you to adjust the tax rate lower and lower and lower. I would encourage you to present a budget to the community that I’m certain they would support and that is one that is at the tax levy limit.”
Parents at the meeting were concerned about a further reduction to guidance and counseling staff at a time when bullying is considered an issue of concern in schools. Others were afraid money was being put before the education of students.
“We should not be battling with these numbers and dragging down the quality of the future of our society, of our community and of our children,” said Ellen Driscoll, a bus driver with the district for 10 years. “The future is not money, the future is our children.”
The next board meeting on the budget will take place on Wednesday, March 20 and focus on special education and the transportation.