Over the last couple on months, Matt Crumb and I have had
multiple opportunities to speak to members of our community and outline some of
our thinking during the budget development process. During those conversations
we outlined a number of unique, innovative strategies that we are employing in
this budget cycle to decrease spending, and retain program to the best of our
ability. Presently, some of these strategies include a retirement
incentive that will allow two teachers to retire and come back to us, making substantially
less money, on a part time basis. This practice allows the district to save the
equivalent of two teachers' salaries while keeping a good portion of
the present program going. Additionally, we are considering decreasing our K-1
sections from 6 to 5, with one of the five sections becoming a multi-age
classroom. Estimating an incoming Kindergarten class of 45 +/- students,
our class size in K and 1st, would still be within very acceptable limits
of approximately 17-18 students. This will decrease the cost of one teacher,
which we can then use in a different position, instead of a new hire. If
this option becomes a reality, we will invite parents in for a conversation
so we can share our thinking and parents can include their thoughts in our new K/1
multi-age classroom.
Moreover, we are looking at modifying the way we deliver
math support, services for New Life Christian School,
RtI interventions, Special Education services and custodial support. All in
all, with the thinking we have done thus far, we may be decreasing 4.25 FTE’s
(full time equivalents) next year. This could be increased or decreased
throughout the upcoming budget cycle.
Our budget conversations began “officially” with our BOE
last Thursday evening as our administrators and division heads presented the
educational rationale of their preliminary budgets. This conversation will
continue during our upcoming Board of Education meetings, which include a Budget Review,
and our Budget Hearing on April 3rd. Please feel free to attend any of the meetings that
interest you.
There has also been a discussion on the Legislative floor
that could potentially change some of the budget numbers as they may return more funds to the education line of the state budget. We
will keep you posted throughout our budget process by way of meetings, our blog,
Radio Free Hamilton and the local news. More to come….
Budget Calendar
March
1 Petition
forms available for Board of Education Candidates – Legal
Notice
(first of five)
1 Deadline
for Tax Levy Limit to be submitted to NYS Comptroller’s
Office
15 Board
of Education – Budget Workshop – 4:30 – 9:00 PM : Educational Rationale
*Schedule TBD*
16 Deadline
for submission of petition to be placed on ballot (60 days prior to vote, per
board policy).
20 Board
of Education – Regular Meeting – Budget Review
April
3 PRELIMINARY
BUDGET HEARING – 6:30 PM : First Review
of Budget Draft
and Staffing Implications – community input
16 Petitions for Board of
Education candidates are due in the
District/Main Office by 4:00 PM.
17 Regular
Board of Education Meeting – Adoption of 2012-2013
Budget
20 Property Tax Report Card
– Submit to NYSED and Local Press
30 Budget – Send
to printer
May
4 Mail budget
newsletter to district residents – (Budget and
Attachments
available)
8 PUBLIC
BUDGET HEARING – 6:30 PM
15 REGULAR
BOARD MEETING AT 6:30 PM – FOLLOWED BY
THE ANNUAL MEETING – BUDGET VOTE AND SCHOOL BOARD
ELECTIONS 12:00 NOON – 8:00 PM.
NOTE: Dates for Public Notice of Annual Meeting: March 1,15,
29 and April 23, 30
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