UPDATE: When the 2014-2015 passed the senate and assembly on March 31 South Colonie was awarded $95,224,128, which is an increase of nearly $500k. In the first draft of the budget the school was expecting to receive just under $200k. In the coming weeks the school board will look at what programs they can restore.
The cafeteria at Shaker Road Elementary was filled to capacity with district administrators, staff, parents, students and athletes Tuesday, March 25, in support of staff that may be cut due to budget constraints.
The South Colonie Central School District held a forum Tuesday to discuss the 2014-15 budget and the financial issues the district is facing.
Since the 2010-11 school year, South Colonie has lost $13.2 million in state funding as a result of the Gap Elimination Adjustment, and the district expects to miss out on another $3.1 million in funding for the upcoming budget. As a result, nearly 200 positions and numerous programs have been cut over the last four years. The district said it needs an additional $182,000 in state aid in order to preserve some of its programs for the 2014-15 school year. The actual figure received could go up when the state budget is approved by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, which had not yet happened by the time The Spotlight had gone to press. Check online at www.spotlightnews.com for updates to this story.
On Tuesday, though, the concern seemed to center on the unknown.
“The largest issue we’re grappling with is what we’re going to get in state aid,” said Sherri Fisher, assistant superintendent for management services and strategic planning. “We need $182,000 in additional state aid to balance the budget we currently have. If we do not receive that, we will have to find another way — either through some other revenues or additional expenditure reductions — to make sure our budget is in balance.”
A large portion of the crowd was made up of concerned parents and students worried that a varsity coach and assistant coach on the football team would be cut.
If more aid is not restored in the final state budget, the district anticipates it would have to cut 35 positions including 15 teaching positions. Twelve of the positions would come from retirement and attrition, while the other 23 positions would come from layoffs and reduced schedules.
Two of the positions are slated to be physical education positions, which is why so many students and parents wore Garnet Raider athletic gear and jerseys. The district hasn’t named the teachers, but word has spread since the teachers were informed Friday, March 14.
Treasurer of the Junior Raiders, Andre Ellman, was there in support of the athletic programs and coaches who may lose their jobs. The Junior Raiders are an organization similar to Pop Warner football, except they don’t have the restrictions that Pop Warner has so more kids can participate.
The coaches of the varsity football team were instrumental in the creation and organization of the Junior Raiders. Ellman argues that sports programs help fight child obesity and give students incentive to try harder in school.
“With all the childhood obesity things going on and all the things going on to cut after school budgets, what a great opportunity these men created to open up athletics to more people than were previously able to participate in the town of Colonie,” said Ellman.
Superintendent Jonathan Buhner said he understood the concerns but that tough decisions were ahead.
“I’m hearing everything you’re saying, and I believe in having well-rounded kids, but sometimes it’s my job not to be the most popular guy,” said Buhner. “To the board’s credit, they have made a lot of difficult decisions over the years too because academically, I think the community also expects us to compete and try to be in the top 10 regionally … for our kids to be able to read and be literate, be prepared and meet the college credit requirements.”
The first presentation of the school budget, which totals $94.7 million, has about a 2.6 percent tax increase, which is under the state-mandated cap. The second draft of the budget was scheduled to be presented April 1.