More than 80 people attended the Wednesday night public forum at Jordan-Elbridge Middle School to discuss anticipated funding shortfalls and what it means for students.
Superintendent of Schools Marilyn J. Dominick presented the group with an overview of the budget gap the district is bracing for – a possible $2.2 million gap that would translate into an increase of 19.3 percent on the tax levy.
“The board of education has already said it won’t do that – we can’t do that,” Dominick told the group.
But that meant things would have to change.
Dominick went on to outline ways the district already planned to cut spending: avoid filling vacant positions, limiting field trips and conferences, negotiating to lower costs of benefits and salary increases, and implement a spending freeze on non-essential purchases.
“A freeze is a cut, in a lot of ways,” Dominick pointed out.
The audience, which included about 25 faculty members and several board of education members, was also asked to share ideas for cutting costs.
Among the ideas generated at the meeting were offering online courses to reduce costs of maintaining a building, limiting athletic events in number and proximity, and examining whether some district employees or their families were eligible for state healthcare programs, which would be free to the individual and a significant savings for the district.
Some of the other ideas presented by Dominick:
– Ban personal appliances in classrooms (microwaves, coffeemakers)
– Combine bus runs
– Keep room temperatures at mandated 68 degrees
– Study enrollment projections and work on reconfiguring use of space to potentially close entire floors of a building or one of the three district buildings
– align bus runs with BOCES
– create in-house daycare center for faculty, staff and community
– sell equipment that is outdated
– eliminate under-enrolled programs or offer less often
– eliminate hard copies and make better use of e-mail
– explore four-day week concept
– use solar panels
– examine staffing levels
– continue talking to legislators
Dominick said she was pleased with the turnout, and more people had attended the meeting than expected.
For full story, see next week’s The Advocate.
