The budget working session held on March 17 allowed the district to present new ideas aimed at closing the budget gap and minimizing the tax levy increase.
The administration reviewed the information from the previous week and responded to any questions from the board as they collaboratively strive toward a consensus on a budget proposal that will be presented to the community for a vote on Tuesday, May 20.
The primary focus of the meeting was to identify possible savings while seeking input from the board, all while considering the implications for staff and students. “I always start by reminding myself what our mission here is – that children are the core of our mission,” said Superintendent Swartz.
To view the budget slideshow presentation from the March 17 meeting, click here.
Superintendent Swartz commenced by addressing public misunderstandings regarding the budget that had been brought to her attention.
- A joint declaration of impasse was agreed upon and could actually serve as a positive step in negotiations because it facilitates mediation to achieve a mutually satisfactory agreement.
- Clarification of the inaccurately stated expenses for the athletic consultant, which is $8,000, and the athletic trainer, which amounted to $61,800.
Last week, during a conversation about declining enrollment, the board asked about possible savings from repurposing a school. Superintendent Swartz addressed the potential savings and expenses linked to closing a school building, highlighting that most savings would arise from reducing staff. She clarified that closing a school does not necessarily mean that all staff in that building will lose their jobs because it will be based on seniority and certification. In addition, maintenance costs would still need to be covered, estimated at $50,000.
Business Manager Andrew Giaquinto delivered a comprehensive overview of the budget shortfall. The primary expense drivers included increases in health insurance, salary, special education tuition, and BOCES placements, contributing to a total budgetary increase of $4.1 million. He conducted a detailed analysis of health insurance expenses, highlighting the efforts of the Capital Area School Health Insurance Consortium to address the rising costs of medical services and prescriptions. Notably, there was a substantial rise in health insurance costs, particularly due to escalation in the self-insured drug costs on the Highmark Plan, resulting in an overall budget increase of 17%.
Swartz also presented the board with proposed modifications to help reduce the budget deficit. These included cutbacks in Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) and not filling certain leaves of absence, which could lead to savings of $760,000.
The discussion raised concerns from the school board regarding the adverse impacts of budget cuts on students, including increased class sizes and reduced support services. In response, several members expressed a willingness to go beyond the 3.25% tax levy limit to protect staff and programs.
March 10 Proposed Revisions to the 2025-2026 Budget:
- Attrition Through Retirements:
- Savings: $937,000
- Support Staff Reductions:
- Savings: $181,400
- Administrative Restructuring:
- Savings: $156,000
- Buildings and Grounds Savings:
- Savings: $144,000
- PPS Restructuring:
- Savings: $131,400
- Unfilled Leave of Absence:
- Savings: $100,000
- BOCES Reductions:
- Savings: $92,700
- IT Reduction Due to Smart Schools:
- Savings: $75,000
- School Resource Officer:
- Savings: $41,000
- Learning Leaps:
- Savings: $30,000
- Districtwide Supply Savings:
- Savings: $17,000
Total Savings from Proposed Revisions: $1,905,500
March 17 Additional Proposed Reductions:
- Teachers:
- Reduction: 4.0 FTE
- Savings: $362,174
- Teaching Assistants:
- Reduction: 2.0 FTE
- Savings: $84,709
- Nurse:
- Reduction: 0.5 FTE
- Savings: $27,761
- Unfilled Leaves of Absence:
- Reduction: 2.0 FTE
- Savings: $285,413
Subtotal Additional Reductions: $760,057
Total Savings from All Reductions: $2,700,557
Board members highlighted their apprehensions about the possible reduction of the School Resource Officers (SRO’s) and the Learning Leaps program, stressing their critical importance. To gain greater clarity, the board sought feedback from staff regarding these cuts and requested regular updates on the progress of the graduation initiative to ensure it aligns with the board’s objectives. In the upcoming meeting on Monday, March 24, Superintendent Swartz and Business Manager Giaquinto will provide detailed scenarios for budget impacts, including going over the tax cap and possible savings from the MOA.