School District to See Budget Savings in Some Areas

The Three Village Central School District will save about $1 million in retirement system contributions and could see about $1,890,000 more in savings in other areas, according to new estimates released Tuesday by the district's administration.

At the same time, however, potential reductions in teaching positions, occupational education, athletics, and other areas have many worried as the district tries to cope with a 3 percent ceiling on how much the tax levy can increase with a simple majority of voters approving the budget.

Jeff Carlson, assistant superintendent for business services, said new estimates from the state show the district will have to pay about $1 million less in retirement system contributions than initially anticipated. In addition, he said, budget savings in other areas include:

• $500,000 in reductions to supplies, equipment, and contracted services;
• $800,000 saved in retirement incentives;
• $150,000 saved in refinancing existing bonds;
• $150,000 via a renegotiated copier contract; and more.

Instead of building it into the budget, potentially floating a separate proposal to – a proposal which could eventually save the district hundreds of thousands of dollars – would also yield about $190,000 in savings on the 2012-13 budget.

At the same time, the administration presented the school board with three numbers: the amount of budget cuts required to stay within tax levy increases of 3 percent, 4.5 percent, and 5.5 percent.

Source: Three Village Central School District

Staying within that 3 percent threshold would require the district to consider half-day kindergarten and implementation of an eight-period day instead of a nine-period day at the secondary level, Carlson said.

Full-day kindergarten is one of the cornerstones of education in Three Village that has attracted families to the area – including Jim Molinari, who lobbied for full-day kindergarten at the beginning of the meeting.

"I know there are hundreds of families in the district affected by this," Molinari said. "This is going to have a major impact on us."

The discussion at one point focused on occupational education via BOCES, which serves about 40 juniors and seniors who spend half a day in traditional classes at Ward Melville High School and then half a day off-site receiving instruction in subjects like auto repair, carpentry, cosmetology and more. Eliminating the program would save the district $300,000, but some board members said it should be preserved, saying it engages a population of students who are more likely to seek career opportunities directly after graduation than attend a four-year college.

"I feel like vulnerable populations of students ... should be protected even more from the kind of cuts we’d be making," trustee Susanne Mendelson said.

Carlson pledged to provide more specific financial numbers for the next board meeting, set for March 13.

"Nobody likes these cuts but these are going to be part of life now in the school districts. ... All grade levels and all subject areas are going to be affected," Carlson said.