Haldane's Villanti Proposes PTA Cuts
A Parent's Perspective
Submitted by Maria Leiter

Forecasting a very difficult budget process, Haldane Superintendent Mark Villanti addressed the Haldane PTA at their monthly meeting on March 9. He presented the board with his recommendations for complying with the Board of Education's request to keep the 2009 budget increase to within striking distance of the state's mandated contingency budget figure of just under 4 percent.

Villanti explained that would necessitate spending cuts totaling $324,500. Saying that the district would try to make these cuts in a way that would least interfere with the program of education, he laid out his recommendations for reaching this figure, including the el iminat ion of the BOCES- sponsored elementary summer school program, which is a shared program with the Garrison School.

Asked what this might mean to children who need this program, Principal Maggie Davi s said that for many students already at risk, it would lead to further regression over the summer, unless parents could pay for a private program. Otherwise, the school would have to try to pick up the slack in September. Traditionally, she said, the school has not had the money in the budget for summer school . Last year was the first time in years that it was reinstated. It then served 140 s tudent s . The cut would save the Haldane District $38,000. Garrison would also likely not be able to continue the program on its own.

The school also faces the loss of two to three teacheraide positions or reduction in aide hours, the eliminat ion of district-sponsored field trips outside a ten-mile radius, cuts in after school programs, athletics, and arts education. Other reductions would come from efficiencies in maintenance, busing and conferences.

Villanti explained that the CSEA union, which is nonteacher staff, has agreed to a freeze in STEP pay raises, and to 3 percent in cost-of-living increases, a concession that was lauded by PTA members.

"None of these items are frivolous," said PTA President Pam Gunther. "Every one of these programs is impor tant ." Never theles s , she and co-President Camille Linson acknowledged that the district had a difficult task this year and thanked the Superintendent for providing the PTA with a bottom-line assessment.

Given the signs that the economy has contracted and would not likely return to its previous levels, Villanti said that schools can no longer count on ever increasing revenues going forward and would likely need to come up with programs that both reduce spending and raise tax rates. He said that making incremental increases year to year would be preferable to larger unmanageable tax hikes or program cuts.

The Board of Education held a hearing at its March 17 meeting and is scheduled to adopt a final version on April 14. PTA members will then have the chance to vote on the issue before it goes to the public for a final vote on May 19, 2009.

"With the budget so close to contingency, many taxpayers might consider sitting out this election, since a defeat of the budget would simply mean the contingency figure would be applied automatically," said PTA board member Maria Leiter. "However, there are strings attached to a cont ingency budge t that could tie the hands of the district as far as how it wishes to apply cuts. I would urge all taxpayers to educate themselves on the proposed budget, attend the meetings and vote on Election Day. If we are going to make cuts in our children's education, we ought to have a say as taxpayers as to where those cuts are made."