School Board OKs budget, 2.8 percent tax hike

Budget restores several positions

by Karen Keefe
Grand Island Dispatch, April 15, 2005

Although several anti-tax residents still spoke out against anything but a zero-increase budget, the Grand Island School Board was satisfied to approve one with a 2.8 percent tax increase on Monday night.

The $43.2 million budget that goes before voters on May 17 includes a projected tax rate of $36.64 per $1,000 of assessed value, $1 more than last year’s rate.

The budget is $2.5 million higher than the 2004-05 budget, an increase of 6.27 percent.

The board reduced the tax rate hike from an earlier 4.9 percent.

“After listening to strong concerns from our residents about higher taxes, we felt we had to get it lower,” said Board President David Goris.

Budget Cuts

Superintendent Thomas Ramming credited three factors for the further reduction:

• More than $1 million in cuts from this year’s budget, including nine teaching positions and $470,000 in capital projects; and transferring $100,000 in employee costs to the food-service budget, which will result in higher lunch prices.

• Half a dozen teacher retirements and two teaching assistant retirements.

• An on-time state budget that increased aid to Grand Island by nearly $500,000.

Teacher Job Losses

Ramming said the loss of nine teachers would increase class sizes in grades five to 12 by about two students per class. This could mean that some of the less popular elective courses will either be dropped or perhaps offered every other year, he said.

Board member Jeri Schopp said the budget came in at a rate the board had asked for and the community wanted and needed, although she regretted the reduction of teachers and other staff. “It’s tough, but it’s something we had to do.”

Board member Susan Gill agreed, that she was disappointed in some of the cuts. She said she hoped taxpayers wouldn’t take out their frustrations over tax hikes in general on the school budget in particular. “I certainly hope the community supports us as they have in the past.”

‘Missed Opportunity’

Resident Denis Dzielski commended the board for the budget proposal that reduced the tax increase. “However, I believe the board is missing a great opportunity to come in with a zero increase or overall reduction in the rate,” he added.

Dzielski suggested that although some of the high-impact budget items, such as pension costs, are mandated by the state, others, such as wage increases and medical premiums are not. The latter should be a priority in any future negotiations with unions, he said.

Positions Restored

Judith Wynne, who taught first- and third-grade at Huth Road Elementary School until her 2001 retirement, spoke in favor of restoring an elementary school library clerk’s position.

Library clerk positions previously cut to half-time have been restored to full-time and hall monitor jobs have been restored, thanks to the cost reductions elsewhere.

Resident Pete Killian complained that budget forums are still a very “customer-unfriendly process.”

He asked the superintendent and board to be true to the first goal the district established in 2004: to create a budget that supports the mission of the district and is fiscally responsible to local taxpayers.

Striking a Balance

“Being fiscally responsible does not mean jumping on the taxpayer revolt bandwagon. Nor does it mean funding every program imaginable,” Killian said. “It means being true to the goals you established and striking a balance, even if that balance results in a planned, well-thought-out, tax increase.”

Killian said if Dr. Ramming truly feels that class size is mainly an emotional issue, then, “I would challenge him and Dr. (Karen) Karmazin to temporarily leave district administration … and spend one month teaching in an inclusion classroom at the increased size. They can then report back to the board first-hand, whether size matters. Just a hunch – I bet his opinion changes.”

Board member Lee Cohen said she truly believed the board had achieved the balance Killian spoke of between educational and fiscal responsibilities. “We do have our academic programs intact,” she said.

‘Kids in a Candy Store’

Resident Jim Mulcahy was critical of district spending. “You’re like little kids in a candy store … If this was your own business, you wouldn’t run it the way you’re running it.”

Mulcahy said the district could save $111,000 by eliminating the position of an interim principal at Sidway Elementary School.

Cohen asked if the school needed a principal, and Superintendent Thomas Ramming said it’s a legal requirement to staff the position unless it’s waived by the state education commissioner.

Board member Neil Seaman said putting together a budget is a long and laborious process that has been open and transparent to taxpayers through a series of board meetings, and budget forums.

“This is something I can live with. I’m not happy with cutting staff, but we’ve heard the reducing-property-tax crowd, we’ve heard people wanting programs intact and we’ve heard about academic achievement; and I do believe that this is, on balance, what we’re going to have to go with,” Seaman said.

“The true impact will be directly on the kids,” said board member Michael Dallessandro in summing up. “We ask that you come out and support the kids.”

Kaegebein Renovation

In other news the board:

•Awarded bids for the renovation of Kaegebein Elementary School in the amount of $2.1 million, under a district wide capital project previously approved by voters in 1999 bond issue.

Architect Richard Gehring of Trautman and Associates said the base bid will include a complete replacement of all roofing at Kaegebein. Gehring said the work also includes replacement of doors, removal of asbestos, a new parking lot and updates to the front of the building. The general contractor is Wilsandra Construction Company.

GIFTS Agreement

•Approved an agreement with the town for the Grand Island Families, Town and Schools program to provide before- and after-school care for Grand Island school students, as well as intervention and referral services. The program focuses on kindergarten through fifth grade, but could be offered at the middle school, as well, on a pay-as-you-go basis.

The agreement, approved April 4 by the Town Board, gives the GIFTS program the go-ahead to issue requests for proposals to provide the services.

DECA Awards

•Heard from high school teacher and DECA adviser Cheryl Chamberlain about the success of six student members of Distributive Education Clubs of America, in regional competition in Rochester last month.

The students are Janice Sturtz, Kari Tondera, Betsy Bergmann, Carissa Bailey, Mandi Thompson and Stephanie Hopkins. Four of the students placed in the top 10 and all six earned awards in the state in competition involving such skills as business marketing, public speaking, job interview skills and civic involvement.

Next meetings

The next school board meetings are:

•Tuesday, April 26, regular business meeting and BOCES budget/trustee vote, 7 p.m., Middle School Little Theater.

•Monday, May 9, regular business meeting and budget hearing, 7 p.m., Middle School Little Theater.

•Tuesday, May 17, budget/trustee vote, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., High School gym.

•Monday, May 23, regular business meeting, 7 p.m., Middle School Little Theater.