Newcome Proposes $1.7M In Cuts

Here are the rough notes of the budget presentation made last evening by Superintendent Tom Newcome at the Board’s work session.

In the work session Dr. Newcome proposed $1.7M in cuts to the district's 2011-2012 preliminary budget and discussed the potential impact the cuts would have on both the district’s budget as well as classroom learning.

These notes are not an official version of the presentation. Official minutes and the presentation deck are expected to be posted in the next day or two.

Tonight’s presentation is not about details and numbers, that will come next week as we have a better feel from the board what we should work on.

The Governor’s budget announced last week had $682,000 less money in it for Octorara.

With these $1.7M in cuts and assuming the board approves the use of $1.2M in fund balance (savings), the district could raise taxes 1.8% and have a balanced budget.

There are a couple non-starters in the discussions because the cuts would have no significant short-term impact on the budget.  Reducing technical and career education is one such program.

Dr. Newcome plans to have at least 4 meetings with residence and parents before the budget comes up for approval in June.  These meetings will be less formal than a board meeting and allow for more of a back and forth discussion and explanation than can be done at a board meeting.

This session this evening is being recorded by Mr. Cullen so residents can see and hear, get first hand information.

Rumor management. There are a lot of misinformation out there.  There are just three sources of official information:

• School board minutes
• Materials posted on the district web site
• Direct response from the office of the superintendent

New initiatives for the board to consider:

·      Makes Grades 7-12 one operation center – reorganize the admin of secondary schools (high school and Middle School) administration, with one principal and three assistant principals. The proposal would eliminate two administrators.  $283,000 savings potential including salary giveback administrators have agreed to take.

·      Eliminate Teams in grades 7-8.  Eliminates help time and allows each teacher to pick up one extra class.  Eliminate 6 positions

·      Eliminate 1 librarian on campus and 1 librarian assistant.  That would leave 3 librarians on campus down from 4.

·      Reduce dental hygienist position by 50%  ($10K estimated savings)

·      Change to full day, alternate Kindergarten. Students come in every other day for a full day eliminating a bus run and providing 2.5 hours of extra instruction every 10 days. (Estimated savings $83,000)

·      Reduce athletic budget by $50K This reduction would cut operating expense only, no salaries would be eliminated.

·      Outsource evening custodial services,  saving $150K to 250K annually.

·      Do not back fill three teaching positions with resignations this year

·       Reduce building budgets by 10% taking the budget back to last years level(estimated savings of $70,000)

·       Reduction in teaching staff

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         Future possibilities

o   Full day Kindergarten, the potential for 2012-2013 must be calculated. Would take three years to realize a significant gain to the budget.

o   Mandatory 2-3 week shut down beginning in the summer of 2012.  Can’t be done this year to allow staff time to adjust family schedules (energy, substitute would provide incremental savings)

o   Blended cyber program – we have to be very careful on how we roll this out.  Otherwise it could cost us money.

o   Privatization of athletics – total budget is at $240K down from 450K a couple of years ago.  Public schools may not fund athletics in the future.  Its time we got in front of the curve.