Recommendations were made to cut some staffing and phase out the Chinese language program at the final budget presentation for the Bethlehem Central School District.
Assistant Superintendent for Educational Programs Jody Monroe said on Wednesday, April 2, the district could make do with some further staff reductions because of a decline in enrollment at the elementary levels. She also said it is becoming harder to find someone to teach the higher levels of the Chinese program, which is making it hard for students to obtain enough credits to graduate or take college level courses.
“At the elementary level, we are seeing a loss of about 75 students and looking at the numbers … we would look to see a reduction of two teachers,” said Monroe.
The total proposed reductions include the loss of two elementary school teachers, with one coming from Eagle Elementary and the other coming from Glenmont. The middle school could also possibly see the loss of one full sixth-grade teacher. Smaller staffing reductions would come in the loss of what equates to partial full-time equivalent positions in art, music, physical education, foreign language, ELS and ELA. This would most like lead to a reduction is sections offered to students.
The staffing reduction would lead to a savings of $341,000.
“We make sure kids are getting what they need to the degree possible, but with the amount of reductions we’ve had already, I don’t want to sugarcoat anything to make it seem like class sizes won’t go up and these reductions will be easy to take,” Monroe told the Board of Education.
Since 2010, Bethlehem Central has faced the loss of 70.6 full-time equivalent positions. Monroe said this has led to larger class sizes, loss of electives and class sections, “less individualized instruction” and “increased stress on staff.” She also said programs can’t be added without something being taken away.
In phasing out the Chinese program, sixth grade students would no longer be able to choose Chinese as a language starting next year. Students in seventh and eighth grade would be asked to enroll in Spanish or French, while those in 10th grade could enroll online or through a program outside of school. The potential savings could be $10,000 to $20,000.
“I don’t want to be overly optimistic that there would be a budgetary savings with this,” said Monroe. “There might be some, but there could be some costs associated with distance learning or online options.” Much of the savings would be realized over time instead of this year, she added.
Some additions were also proposed to the equivalent of $90,000, but may not be realized as the district attempts to close its budget gap. Monroe said an additional remedial math position at .4 FTE is needed at the elementary level, and a remedial English position at .4 FTE is needed at the middle school, along with a .1 FTE technology position. Also requested was partial restoration of field trip funds at $25,400.
Superintendent Tom Douglas said he was disappointed in the amount of aid the district ultimately received from the state after the state budget was passed and greater restoration of the Gap Elimination Adjustment was granted to needier districts.
With the lack of state aid, the district will still need to find an additional $220,000 in reductions in order to close its now $3.43 million budget gap. The school board will have to choose between lowering the levy and using more fund balance, or keeping the levy at the maximum allowable limit of 3.12 percent.
“Sooner or later, that fund balance will need to be paid for,” said Douglas, warning the Board about the use of too much of the district’s savings to balance the budget. “But we also need to maintain the balance of what is a Bethlehem education.”
The next budget meeting will be on Tuesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. in the Bethlehem High School Library.