Possible cuts considered for school district

by Susan Mikula Campbell

Niagara-Wheatfield Interim Superintendent Kerin Dumphrey was planning to present about $1.6 million in suggested cuts and changes at Wednesday evenings school board meeting to help meet the goal of keeping the tax levy increase for the 2012-13 budget under 5 percent.

Dumphrey said the laundry list of options was the result of brainstorming on the budget with all district administrators and principals.

"There's nothing here we would like to see go, but we don't have a choice," Dumphrey said. "There are no easy solutions without affecting the core programs for the kids."

Among the options:

•Using the unassigned $431,000 funds included in the original budget.

•Eliminating the elementary guidance position the board restored to the original budget.

•Using the $120,000 in state funding recently brought to the district by State Sen. George Maziarz to help reduce the tax levy instead of for pre-kindergarten.

•Freezing the salaries of confidential and administration resource people who are not members of the School Resource Personnel union contract for a savings of about $109,000.

•Eliminating the Community Education Program for $12,000.

•Cutting one athletic trainer.

•Cutting two elementary art teachers and three elementary music teachers.

Other possible ideas include closing district buildings in July and laying off cleaners for that month.