Superintendent: School District Faces Tough Cuts

The school budget process this year is tricky for districts given the state aid cuts and the specter of Governor Cuomo’s proposed passing, and Lindenhurst and its Board of Education are feeling the squeeze.

Indeed, there are some tough decisions on how to cut a budget for next year that currently totals a little more than $137 million. The district also faces a net loss of $3.1 million in federal and state aid.

In a presentation to the community recently that kicked off the Lindenhurst budget process, Superintendent Richard Nathan said the reduction in state aid alone translates into approximately a four percent tax levy increase.

He further noted continued increases in Teacher Retirement System at about $1.5 million, Employee Retirement System at roughly $500,000 and healthcare costs at approximately $1.6 million equals a tax levy increase between four and five percent just to cover these three costs. And, he said at the presentation, continued transportation costs and energy costs would also increase the tax levy.

“This is new territory for me, and what I expect to happen is the board will make some difficult decisions,” Nathan said when Patch sat down with him last week to discuss the budget process.

However, Nathan has that is similar to the one he presented the board of education last year. And by discussing instructional and non-instructional – scheduled for 7 p.m. at the audtiorium – each phase will have a value. The program is tiered based on the importance of each level of cuts and the programs and personnel they may affect.

“The program is ranked. While nothing is not important, what I feel are the most critical are placed in the later phases of cuts,” Nathan explained. “Phase one is already taking effect with staff cuts as a result of E.W. Bower Elementary School closing at the end of this year.”

They include one administrative, 8.4 non-instructional and 16.5 non-instructional positions, Nathan noted. That will save the district $1.5 million annually.

“We’re also removing some enrichment programs, and may cut the 10th grade of the Alternative Learning Center,” Nathan said. Last year the ALC was moved from the McKenna administration building to its own pair of classrooms in the high school, and the program's ninth grade was cut.

Other programs at risk include fine arts dance, high school media, gifted and talented, theater arts, practical arts, study skills, eigth grade advanced art, JROTC, sixth grade world languages, elementary instrumental music, clubs and athletics, and full-day kindergarten.

“Our dance program is wonderful, and last year the media program did a PSA for us to help sell the budget,” Nathan said. “But many of these I feel should be integrated as shared enrichments, not pull-out programs.”

The fifth phase includes programs considered most critical, including full-day kindergarten.

“If that happens, then it would involve losing 10 elementary positions,” Nathan said.

Going from full- to half-day would also involve adjusting the educational program for the upper grades, Nathan and the board confirmed at its most recent meeting last week.

“We’ve made every effort to make everything as public as possible, with the community input night and all of the presentations on buildings and grounds, special education, technology, building budgets, transportation, athletics,” Nathan said.

Wednesday night’s presentation on personnel was the largest so far, after the roster of programs at risk was released and after 49 teachers received notice at the beginning of March of the possibility of being excessed at the end of this school year.

Prior to Wednesday night's meeting, Nathan said, “You’ll see teachers, but also high school students coming out to support their favoritie teachers and electives and programs.”

It was also expected to draw numerous parents and community leaders, as did previous meetings.

During recent presentations, several key items were revealed. For one, despite the $750,000 in savings this year, there will be a 25 percent increase in transporation costs, largely due to increasing fuel costs and a new bus contract. It was also revealed the JV2 and JV9 teams are in danger of being cut.

And there are repairs that must be made at because of water damage.

“One wall is affected, and the paint is peeling in the auditorium," Nathan said of the school. "For health and safety concerns, these obviously can’t wait."

However, Nathan said his biggest challenge now is maintaining the integrity of the Lindenhurst School District and keeping it “the home of good schools."

“The challenge is trying to maintain a quality school district while being fiscally responsible to the community,” Nathan said.