Teachers Walk Out of School Budget Meeting

The community, school employees and Board of Education filled auditorium Wednesday night to discuss budget and possible personnel cuts – until about 300 followed (TAL) President Rose Russo out the door mid-meeting.

They exited after Russo addressed Board President Ed Murphy, Jr.

“I’ve sat quietly during these meetings as teachers have been made to be the scapegoats,” said Russo, president of , one of five employee units in contract negotiations with the board. “But really the blame should go to dysfunctional state government and Governor Cuomo.”

She continued: “The $1.5 billion cut to schools is the largest one we’ve seen, and we’ve lost $3.1 million in state aid due to fiscal irresponsibility. And the proposed tax cap would take away voters’ rights and would erode the democratic process.”

Russo urged the board against severe cuts – such as the 49 teachers at risk of being excessed this year and the 10-plus programs also at risk. “We can’t let this happen.”

She concluded: “Mr. Murphy, give me call, and we’ll talk. If we can get together, we can get through these hard financial times together.”

She received a standing ovation. But it wasn’t until Murphy answered that the meeting turned sour.

“We appreciate the effort that’s been made to this point. Your leadership has made some suggestions,” he said. “Yes, a proposal has been made that can save the district some dollars this year.”

Russo cut in, “Just call me tomorrow, and we’ll talk.”

Murphy continued: “But it’s also the responsibility of this board to weigh the impact of proposals and weigh the long-term longevity of the school district. While it might be helpful to accept something this year, we have to weigh the following year’s impact and long-term impact, especially with the potential tax cap. We don’t want to breach negotiations. We would want to continue to continue negotiations in private. We appreciate your efforts.”

Murphy then called for a three-minute recess. The board came back, and he addressed her again.

He began, “If TAL took a true zero for year one and a step and increment freeze,” but before he could finish, Russo stood up, followed by all 300 teachers in attendance, and exited the auditorium.

What Murphy tried to describe was a pay freeze, or a zero percent increase and no step or lane increments. He further noted it’d preserve – which, if any were implemented, would cause programs and teachers to be cut.

He told Patch following the meeting: “She [Russo] came up to the podium and left the community with an impression that they’d like to make concessions and haven’t been basically responded to. I couldn’t let it sit without responding because while we are in discussions, their give-back is attached with get, and in the short-term, a true zero for next year would save phases two through five.”

Murphy was referring to the Superintendent Richard Nathan presented at the very same school budget meeting Wednesday night. Here are some :

• Phase one is already in place with the closing of E.W. Bower elementary school this year at a savings of $1.3 million. Additional phase one cuts related to declining enrollment, reconfiguring the sixth grade and eliminating the 10th grade of the Alternative Learning Center total $915,423.
• Phase two’s $566,651 in cuts involves eliminating several middle school and high school positions.
• Phase three’s $880,976 in cuts includes eliminating sixth and eighth grade computers, 11th and 12th grade of the ALC, and theater arts and industrial arts programs.
• Phase four’s $562,502 in cuts involves eliminating two ORION teachers and sixth grade world languages, fine arts dance and JROTC programs.
• Phase five – the elimination of full-day kindergarten – would save $1.4 million.

Outside the auditorium, members were upset at what they felt were a breach of negotiations.

“We were always told not to negotiate in public. He [Murphy] was starting to, and that’s why we left,” Russo said.

“We feel we’ve put forward very fair proposals that would save the district quite a bit of money, and the board said, ‘No,’ every time,” said Roseann Geiger, TAL second vice president.

Teachers and TAL brass conferred with each other, and when Russo confirmed she was leaving, the rest followed.

Inside the now half-empty auditorium the meeting continued, with many expressing similar feelings about the walkout.

Many felt the teachers seemed to not just walk out in protest, but walk out on a community struggling with what could be another high tax levy imposed or a school system that could be severely cut.

Two board members, obviously upset, also tried to clarify why Murphy tried to say what he did before TAL exited.

“I think what Mr. Murphy was trying to say to Ms. Russo and her members was that a true zero, a true pay freeze this school year could let these programs avoid being cut,” Ray Doran said. “That message did not get through. We’re taken aback as board members. This not on the teachers’ back, but a true zero would save the district jobs. That is how you save programs. It’s the only way to do it this year.”

Robert Vitiello added, “The reality is we can’t give the community a nine or 10 percent increase.”

He also urged the community to talk to teachers. “We listened to what they had to say. They walked out on the kids. All the bargaining units gave us concessions. And we thank you for that. But now we need your help. Petition the teachers because the legislator guys aren’t doing it anymore.”

Following the meeting the board will review phases two through five, then to finalize the budget.