Guilderland school district administrators were weary of exceeding the state imposed tax cap and are looking to cut 33 full-time equivalent positions across $1.8 million of reductions.
Superintendent of Schools Marie Wiles presented her proposed spending plan for the 2014-15 school year during a special meeting Thursday, Feb. 27, which totals nearly $91.5 million representing a spending increase of 0.52 percent. Wiles proposed budget keeps the district just under its maximum allowable tax levy increase of 2.17 percent, but the Board of Education will craft the final budget presented to voters. The budget continues cuts to staff including 7.85 full-time equivalent teachers, 9.15 FTE teaching assistants, and 16 FTE support staff members.
“We recognize that this is a multi-year challenge, this is year four of the worst of it, and there really is no end in sight,” Wiles said. “We can’t pretend that we just solve a problem this year and go on our merry way. Because it is a long term problem, there are areas that we will continue to look at.”
Guilderland has cut 146 FTE positions since the Gap Elimination Adjustment was implemented to this school year, which included cutting 12 percent of teachers, 33 percent of teaching assistants, 20 percent of administrators, and 9.5 percent of other staff members.
“These cuts are odious,” Board member Judy Slack said. “There are very few of them that I like.”
Board President Barbara Fraterrigo, while not liking any of the reductions, said administrators had incorporated public feedback and “really reflects community concerns.”
Wiles said some of the budget reductions, along with increases, were tied to enrollment or participation levels of students. Several reductions though were aimed at staying within the tax cap limit.
“Reductions driven by declining enrollment or a reduced number of sections, as well as those informed by data indicating a decrease in needed services, were enacted first,” Wiles said in a statement. “Wherever possible, we avoided reductions proposed only to close the district’s budget gap.”
This year there is a new incentive for municipalities and schools to stay within their tax cap limit, because the governor proposed a tax rebate program for any increase in taxes if the cap isn’t exceeded. Schools also continue to need a supermajority of voters to approve any budget over its tax cap.
There would be five fewer elementary class sections needed next school year, saving $390,000, but a large class of incoming sixth grade students at the middle school is spurring the addition of 2.4 FTEs for $182,200.
Despite reservations from some board and community members, the budget cuts kindergarten teaching assistants from 6 hours to 3 hours. This reduction was made to help maintain elementary classroom sizes within the district’s guidelines and preserve programming across the district.
The integrated program at the high school, commonly known as the “X Program,” wasn’t spared in Wiles’ budget proposal. Unlike other courses, it’s assigned two teachers.
“While this program in its current iteration is well regarded, it is simply too expensive to support in the given economic climate,” the rationale statement for the superintendent’s budget said.
There are currently staff members working on readjusting the program to possibly offer it in some other form next school year.
Summer school would shift to a regional model through the support of Capital District BOCES saving the district approximately $64,000. Guilderland would host as a summer school site for its students and Berne-Know-Westerlo students, with BOCES running the program.
Assistant coaching positions previously slated to be cut were restored in the superintendent’s budget, but Varsity ice hockey and JV golf are being eliminated.
An overall snapshot of reductions includes $568,00 being enrollment driven, $178,000 from reduced elementary staffing and instruction, $262,500 from the high school, $31,00 from special areas, $308,000 from special education and the largest from educational support services totaling $625,000. The middle school is seeing an increase of spending totaling $180,000.
Wiles said the amount of special education students in the district is declining, so less resources are needed in that area. Fraterrigo said she was concerned special education was being cut too thin and hoped to see one to two FTE positions restored.
Board members are scheduled to adopt the final budget on April 8 and go before district voters on May 20.