Former national news anchorman and author Tom Brokaw appeared on Book TV last month, and the interviewer asked him how America could solve its coast-to-coast budget deficits at all levels of governance.
“Well, I would consolidate a lot of education,” Brokaw answered.
Finally, someone who gets it!
Spendthrift school districts and their partners in crime, the greedy teachers’ unions, are driving taxpayers to the poorhouse.
‘It’s for the kids’
There are more than 700 school districts in New York state alone, not counting New York City. That’s at least 600 too many. And they all raise property taxes whenever it suits them. Why not? It’s all “for the kids,” right? Sure, it is.
B’ville closing a school?
The Baldwinsville Central School District may close up one of its elementary schools for the 2012-13 school year. The district anticipates a $6 million budget shortfall, and like school districts across the Empire State, its student enrollment figures are dropping faster than the Dow Jones. Superintendent Jeannie Dangle thinks that closing one of B’ville’s five elementary schools could save the district $1.1 million.
I’ve wondered if B’ville might benefit by consolidating with another district or two. Liverpool Central School District, for example.
Forward thinkers
Down in the southern end of the county, the LaFayette and Fabius-Pompey school districts are pioneering consolidation by sharing a single business administrator.
The savings are minimal so far – each district conserves about $100,000 – but the principle is promising. And there are already tangible benefits.
LaFayette Superintendent Pete Tigh points out that his district can now fill one-and-a-half teaching positions which otherwise would’ve been slashed.
Even further south, Cortland County’s McGraw and Cincinnatus districts share a business official in the BOCES region. Other districts are saving money by combining athletic teams, offering joint classes and contracting with BOCES for support staff.
District dollar signs
LCSD has an annual budget of $132 million, while the B’ville district manages to get by on about $92.6 million.
Why not throw in together? They could certainly run the combined district for far less than $225 million annually. So maybe they’d finally stop raising property taxes every year.
More Italian eats
Readers really seemed to enjoy my Dec. 21 column about the way our Italian friends celebrate Christmas Eve with the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Plus I plugged a couple of my favorite Liverpool-area Italian eateries, Canale’s and Gentile’s Pasta & Pizza.
Tony Natale from North Syracuse wrote in to suggest I try the $5.99 all-you-can-eat pizza, pasta and salad bar at Enzo’s Pizzeria, at the corner of Old Liverpool Road and Electronics Parkway; 451-3177. (Does anyone else remember when Lueck Dairy sold milk, butter and ice cream there?)
Anyhow, Tony was right. Enzo’s not only makes decent pies and pasta, they also serve Casey’s and Bill’s New York-style four-inch cheesecakes, a bargain at $3.95. That’s sweet in more ways than one!
Relentless rock’n’roll
Liverpool native businessman Mike Rotella is no longer with the Limp Lizard BBQ, but co-owners Chuck Orlando and Scott Schimpff continue to ride the wild reptile at 201 First St.
If your heart beats to the rhythm of old-style rock’n’roll, get defribrillated by Thin Line at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20. The power trio features Sammys Hall of Famer Greg “Creamo” Liss on bass, Lenny Milano Jr. on drums and former Outta Kontrol guitarist Mark Cole playing rock so relentless it’ll leave your jawbone on the floor.
Then on Saturday night it’s reservation rockabilly by The Fabulous Ripcords. Be there or be square!
Admission is free at the Limp Lizard and the barbecue is bodacious; 451-9774.
