The meeting room in Hillburn Thursday evening was less full than the last few budget workshops, both of people and hope. The Ramapo Central School Board met in another special Budget Workshop to discuss how to bridge a prospective revenue shortfall in total of 10 million dollars.
Through program and personnel reductions, use of district reserve funds and tax levy, and state aid, the gap has been bridged on the 2013-2014 proposed budget of some $127.8 million. 71% of the budget will go to district salaries and benefits while 82% of the budget revenue is projecting to come from district taxes.
The subdued room listened as district Superintendent Douglas Adams and staff presented a budget that seeks to “strike a balance between an ideal educational program and the economic reality of the district’s fiscal ability to support the program.” Much of the discussion centered on recent state aid. With the NY State Legislature’s budget statewide education budget decisions released over Spring Break in the last week of March, Dr. Adam’s staff worked the latest figures into the budget.
Ramampo Central will have experienced a loss in state aid, aid promised but not delivered, of some 10 million dollars from budget years 2010 through 2014. That’s called declining state aid. But Ramapo Central has fared fairly well in terms of per pupil school aid. According to a Citizens Budget Committee study, with an overall enrollment of 4,652 students, Ramapo Central will see an increase of 7.5% in state aid per student for 2013-2014, with a total per student aid of $3,842. East Ramapo Schools are due to receive total aid per student of $6,778 for 2013-14, which is a 7.1% increase.
With the proposed elimination of summer school, field trips, Homework Club, and special extra duty pay reductions, Ramapo Central is poised to operate differently next school year. For example, all extra duty activities at the elementary school level are proposed to be eliminated.
When the board opened up the meeting to public comments, suddenly real people and programs that may be cut emerged in their colorful human form. The BOE of education by necessity does not make personnel decisions. School principals do.
With popular middle and high school dance instructor Kathy Muenz on the firing line, her students made a showing by approaching the podium to advocate for dance classes. Some 700 middle and high school students signed a petition this past week on Mrs. Muenz’ behalf, saying that dance is an important part of their education — and for many it’s the only free dance class they are able to take. The Suffern High School dance class meets on a daily basis and fulfills state requirements in music and art.
“What’s important is the students have passion,” said Kathy Muenz, a dance instructor at both Suffern Middle School and Suffern High School. The district dance program is on the chopping block. “If you let it go, it won’t come back. And it’s a short slide to mediocrity.”
Also on the firing line may be popular Suffern Middle school technology teacher Tom DeFabio, who was present at the meeting and was nearly brought to tears when several technology students surprised him by walking to the podium and begged the board to reconsider.
“We love him and would appreciate it if you didn’t let him go,” two middle school girls pleaded.
DeFabio teaches seventh-graders at Suffern Middle School and is part of the Project Lead the Way Gateway To Technology (GTT) program.
Incredibly thorough minded, Dr. Adams had slides prepared with Questions & Answers from questions submitted to him and the board by people throughout the district.
One question asked is if there will be a Social Worker available to students in every school on a daily basis. The answer is yes. Another asked whether the BOE has considered exceeding the NY State imposed tax cap. The answer: yes. Each 1% increase in the tax levy is the equivalent to one million dollars.
A question related to 60% voter approval was answered as well (it takes a 60% vote to override or bust the tax cap). Since 2009-10, the average budget voter approval rate has been 62.6%. Additionally, the answer to athletic program cuts is yes, $100,000 in proposed athletic reductions are in the budget. To answer another question, the district spends $1.2 million a year to transport students to 68 non-public schools.
School Board President Craig Long has recommended that the board hold one final budget workshop before the board adopts a proposed 2013-14 budget on April 23. The public will then have nearly one month to digest the changes before it votes on Tuesday, May 21.
The 2015-2016 Ramapo Central School budget is projected to be nearly 14 million dollars.
To advocate for any personnel or programs, contact: Suffern Middle School Principal Brian Fox at 845.357.7400, ext. 412 or at bfox@ramapocentral.org and/or Suffern High School Principal Mr. Patrick Breen at 845.357.3800 (ext. 310) or at pbreen@ramapocentral.org.
Additionally, you may make yourself heard by contacting State Sen. David Carlucci’s office at 845.623.3627, Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffe at 845.624.4601 and Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt at 845.291.3631.
