Below is a summary of the cuts in the latest proposed budget (presented last Tuesday). For a reduction of $5,273,198 here's how the burden lays:
Elementary Schools: 24.23% of the cuts
Middle School: 28.12% of the cuts
High School: 26.66% of the cuts.
If we add ESL, substitutes and athletics, teachers & programs appear to be bearing 83% of the cuts.
The District Administrations portion? 3.49%
And yet Cuomo writes:
"In the debate over the state budget, it is important to focus on the facts instead of overheated rhetoric. While I have asked state agencies to cut their budgets by 10%, I have only sought an average 2.9% reduction in overall school spending. And I have suggested many ways in which school districts can absorb these reductions without laying off teachers, cutting programs or harming students. This includes:
- School districts have $1.5 billion in reserves and unspent federal funds that will allow many to absorb the proposed $1.5 billion cuts without service reduction.
- Cutting the salaries of the more than 2,000 high priced school administrators who receive more than $150,000 in salaries and benefits would result in substantial savings. "
Cuomo made his cuts not so that our schools bear the burden but to force the administration to be more efficient. WRITE THE BOE & ROSARIO and INSIST ON AT LEAST A 15% REDUCTION IN ADMINISTRATION.
15% translates to about $580,000 of reduction in adminstration that could be given back to the schools in the form of TAs, althletics, and special education.
PLEASE DO NOT DELAY. TAKE ACTION BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
It is agreed that there must be a reduction in administration, as well as a reduction in other areas (conferences, training, etc.) that do not directly impact student instruction. At the high school level, the proposed $59 million budget will eliminate approximately 10 teaching positions (roughly 2 from each department, i.e. English, social studies, science, business, special education), as well cut 1.4 guidance counselors and numerous paraprofessionals. Considering that the student population is only going to decrease by 60 students at the high school, these drastic cuts are abominable. New York State is increasing its academic demands of students, and we must keep class sizes small in order to meet these demands. Furthermore, perhaps a larger school budget needs to be considered in order to maintain academic excellence in our schools. Poor schools will have negative ramifications for our community, and a $59 million budget is quite austere.
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