Preliminary School Budget Contains Position, Program Cuts

Though a number of items could be saved through a second budget question, there will be significant staffing reductions and program eliminations in the Madison Public Schools for the 2010-11 school year.

The Board of Education voted on Monday night to submit its preliminary budget to the county. Monday marked the final day mandated by the state for submission.

Superintendent Dr. Richard Noonan detailed to a large extent the cuts the district is expecting to make in light of the recent announcement by the state government that Madison will receive no aid. The district is also having its usual debt service contribution reduced by 15 percent.

"We don't want to single out any one or two areas for major sacrifices," Noonan said. "We are going to ask everyone to shoulder the pain, shoulder the sacrifice. And that means that when it comes to staff reductions, which are necessary this year to get us within cap, every group–administrators, supervisors, teachers, teaching assistants, custodians, secrataries–we're looking at every group in terms of a contribution and sharing the sacrifice."

Some of the key staffing reductions detailed in a slideshow by Noonan (of which many can be seen in the photo gallery attached to this article) was the elimination of the supervisor of visual and performing arts and the supervisor of special education–both district-wide positions.

Though there were a number of other positions listed–such as one high school English and one physical education position to name just two–the supervisor positions are the only ones with names attached to them as of now by virtue of their titles.

Stacy Snider is the Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts and Dawn McNichol is the Supervisor of Special Education. However, both could potentially be retained by the district. When asked by Board Member Kevin Blair if, because the supervisor of special education was well respected and considered an asset as a teacher before her promotion, she might be considered for an alternative position by bumping a teacher, Noonan said it was a consideration.

As for Snider's position, there will be a second budget question when the public votes on April 20 to restore both the position of visual and performing arts supervisor and the Madison Junior School's interscholastic program, which was one of the programs listed for elimination in the preliminary budget. Voters would need to support the restoration by a vote of 60 percent.

If the vote is for restoration, the tax levy would increase from 4 percent to 4.6 percent. It would add $39 on the tax increase to a resident who owns an average borough property, increasing the average from $284 average increase to a $323.

Also listed as programs for elimination along with the junior school sports programs were elementary school world language instruction, district supplied sports physicals, and summer help employment. Listed for reduction were remedial programs and services, and counseling services.

Other than the two supervisor positions, listed for staffing cuts were a district computer technician, two full teaching assistant positions, a secretary position at Central Avenue School, a basic skills position that is shared by Kings Road School and Torey J. Sabatini School, a reading position at Central Avenue School, a high school physical education position, a high school English position, a vocal music position at the junior school, a classroom reading position at Kings Road School, two world language teaching positions, and the partial elimination (less than one full-time position) of a special education position at Kings Road School, a Junior School counselor, a high school social studies position, and a high school German position.

There would be an increase in one area, however. With the adjustment due to enrollment, and with the uncertainty over the probable redistricting at the elementary school level, there would be an addition of three elementary school teaching positions.

The other major piece of information in Noonan's presentation, which was explained further by Business Administrator Charles Milewski, was the anticipated sale of Green Village Road School would be incorporated into the budget.

Projected at a sale revenue of $7 million, the planned expenditure of the revenue would be $5,400,000 for maintenance and capital projects, a $1 million contribution to the Madison Recreation Center, and $600,000 in technology purchases.

Vice President Pat Rowe pointed out for the public that money from the sale, which is a capital project, can only go toward capital projects. Milewski also said that, because the state has taken away surplus from schools this year, that the money from the sale will need to be allocated to avoid the possibility of having it taken away. Noonan said he would like to find a way to stretch that money as far into the future as they can.

There will be two budget presentations for residents to attend if they chose this week. One will be on Wednesday at 9 a.m. at Madison Junior School and the other will be at Madison High School on Thursday night at 7.

The budget hearing will come Friday night at 7 at Madison High School. The public budget vote will come on April 20.