BALDWINSVILLE -- 52 jobs could be on the line in the Baldwinsville School District, as officials work to close a $3.4 million budget gap. Superintendent Jeanne Dangle gave the school board a glimpse of the spending plan at a board meeting Monday night.
Dangle says this is another difficult budget year, and the process has been tough. The $97 million budget includes some deep cuts. "It's across the board, when we built the budget we looked to take a little bit from everything so we don't decimate any program," said Dangle.
Not all the position cuts are from layoffs, some would be through attrition. Salaries and benefits make up 75% of the district's spending.
"I find it very difficult to fathom," said Jim Southard, who is the Assistant Superintendent in the DeRuyter School District, and a taxpayer in Baldwinsville. "I understand the pressures that are causing this. I wish there was another way, I wish there was more money coming from the state, it would be good if there focus went toward education rather than other initiatives," he said.
Special education seems to be a hard hit area. The budget would reduce the summer special education programs, and cut seven positions. The spending plan would eliminate third grade orchestra, and art and music classes for Kindergarten kids. Dangle says the staff cuts would also mean larger classes, students could lose class elective options and see a decrease in student support services.
The student representative who sits on the school board called these decisions "frustrating."
Baldwinsville's school budget had to be balanced with less state aid and less county sales tax revenue. Dangle says the district is looking to use $8 million, or 25%, worth of reserve funds to help offset costs, and tax increase. Right now, the district is looking at a 2% tax levy increase.
Dangle still has to present her final budget, which is expected to be done next week. The school board votes on it April 4th.
