This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

School District Budget Inches Closer to Balancing

Some favor a larger tax increase to save valued school programs.

Public speakers at Thursday night’s Bethlehem Area School Board budget hearing seemed willing to bear a higher tax increase than the majority of directors are willing to approve.

Though it seemed most agreed that a tax increase is not only inevitable, but preferable to sacrificing programs that comprise a quality education.

The administration laid out further cuts in the proposed 2011-2012 budget, reducing a shortfall of about $4.5 million, which would require a tax increase of 3.64 percent, to about $3 million, representing a tax increase of 2.42 percent, or about $80 per year for the average homeowner.

Find out what's happening in Bethlehemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But the school board still directed Superintendent Joseph Roy to go over expenditures yet again and present more cuts at the next hearing. A little over $1 million more will have to be trimmed to meet the goal.

The school board has said it is aiming to hold the increase at 1.7 percent, an increase of about $56 per year for the average property owner.

Find out what's happening in Bethlehemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Under the revised plan, an additional seven non-teaching positions would be cut, bring the proposed personnel reduction to 174.

Also on the chopping block: Club allocations for the middle and high schools would be cut by $10,000, after-school buses would be reduced to two days a week from five, sports teams that do not meet minimum participation levels would be eliminated, cheerleaders would no longer perform at away high school basketball games, and sports busing within the district would be eliminated. School resource officers' hours would also be further reduced.

The district is attempting to shield the most important aspects of academic programs from the reductions, officials said. Core class sizes would be preserved and support for the most at-risk students would continue, they added.

“Our goal has been to protect the classroom as best we can,” Roy said.

Administrators say some cuts to academic programming are inevitable. Likely reductions include moving from a full-day kindergarten to a half-day program, cuts to the English as a Second Language program, which has seen declining enrollment in recent years, and the incorporation of pre-kindergarten programs into the grammar schools. Electives with insufficient enrollment are likely to be cut, and guidance services may also be cut back.

Cuts to extracurricular activities and school club expenditures will likely be based on participation. Final decisions would be left to school principals, Roy said.

Also likely is the institution of a flat-rate activities fee of $25 per pupil, administrators said. Those participating in their school's free lunch program and others that would find the rate a hardship would be exempt. The fee would apply to all extracurricular activities and be paid once per year, regardless of how many activities or sports the student participated in, they said.

Despite the board's direction, it is unclear whether board members will hold the line at the 1.7 percent increase, or approve the budget with a slightly larger increase.

To audience applause, board member Michael Faccinetto said he would be in favor of a tax increase of up to 3 percent to save programs he feels are essential, such as school resource officers, full-day kindergarten classes and guidance resources for students.

“Those things were cut, but I think they need to go back in,” he said.

Board vice-president William Burkhardt also agreed a higher increase would be appropriate.

“Even if we weren't doing a thing to this budget, we'd still have to increase taxes,” he said, adding that in the past taxes were never properly adjusted to reflect the district's debts or cover existing programs.

“I just believe we need to deal with some things that were done in past years,” Burkhardt added.

School director Aurea Ortiz said she too would support a higher tax increase over more cuts.

“I just can't support cuts to programs for children at risk. I just can't,” she said.

Board president Michele Cann said she was comfortable with the current proposal and would support a tax increase of up to 2.5 percent prevent further cuts. She said she doesn't like the proposed reduction in the number of classes offered at the high schools, 'pay-to-play' fees, the elimination of kindergarten busing and the inevitable loss of extracurricular activities.

All board members who said they support a higher tax increase over the elimination of valuable school programming received enthusiastic audience applause.

Public opinion seemed very much in favor of spending a little more, if it means a better school experience and education.

“We understand that the neighborhood is only worth living in when the children are taken care of,” said one parent. “Many people are willing to pay to make that a possibility.”

Another parent expressed frustration that more cuts will be considered.

“You're telling me we can't spend $80 a year (per household), and you want to see how much more you can cut,” she said. “Most people spend more on a nice dinner out.”

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?