Nazareth Area School District Superintendent Proposes $1.8 Million in Budget Cuts

Nazareth Superintendent Victor Lesky proposed $1.8 million in budget cuts Monday night that include eliminating eight jobs -- seven of them teacher positions -- and eliminating the driver education program.

The board had a $68.8 million preliminary budget on Feb. 14 that allowed for a 1.7 to 2.5 percent tax increase.

Several employee positions are on the chopping block, including:

• Two special education teachers (Academic Support Program)
• Two technology specialists (Teacher Leaders)
• Two driver education teachers, which would eliminate the driver education program
• A family consumer science teacher from the middle school
• A full-time custodial position 

If the board would approve the job cuts, $774,376 would be saved, Lesky said, adding that the employees affected by the cuts are aware their positions are on the line.

“With reluctance, as far as a personal preference of mine, I do believe [the driver education program] is one of the more practical courses we provide our students,” Lesky said.  “Unfortunately, there are things like this that need to be cut in order to reach our funding goal.”

As Lesky went through his presentation, he noted that the school’s calendar, which is sent to every resident living in the district, might not land in mailboxes next year.  If the calendar were kept solely online, the district would save $11,000.

“It will be published on our website and it can be downloaded and printed,” Lesky said.  “[The calendar] will be updated as we move forward through the school year.”

Other cuts include contributions to Northampton Community College, the Career Institute of Technology and to the Public School Employees' Retirement System.  These cuts add up to another $27,465. 

After these cuts were presented to the school board and about 15 members of the public, Lesky discussed the budget deficit depending on which tax increase the board were to approve.

With a 2.5 percent tax increase, the deficit would be $561,030.  With a 1.7 percent tax increase, the deficit would be $896,030.

“These numbers were pre-Gov. Corbett’s state recommendations,” explained Bernadine Rishcoff, the board secretary.

After Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget address on March 8 and the governor’s proposed state revenue reductions, Nazareth Area School District now has to add $1.16 million to the deficit it worked to reduce, according to Rishcoff, bringing the district’s deficit back up to $2.05 million.

“We’re basing these numbers on the governor’s budget address and on expert interpretation of the budget address,” added Rishcoff.

According to Lesky, administrators sat down once again and found five other proposed expense reductions, including:

• EBTEP rate increase proposal
• Capital reserve fund transfer for facilities
• Capital reserve fund transfer for technology
• A reduction in transportation by 2.5 buses
• Cuts in conferences, travel and substitutes.

After those cuts, which equal $1.o2 million, are taken into consideration, the budget deficit is now at $1.03 million at a 1.7 percent tax increase, according to Lesky.

To again reduce the deficit, administrators are proposing a capital reserve transfer of $650,000 for facilities and technology, bringing the total deficit as of March 21 to $381,030.

“We do have options for the board to consider eliminating the $381,030, but we do not have full options to delete the $650,000,” Lesky said.  “We’d have to look at some pretty deep cuts.  I think we need to do a two-to-three-year plan to get that $650,000 down to zero.”

Board member Kenneth Butz, chairman of buildings and grounds, was relatively pleased with the budget cuts. 

“I think the administration has done a great job at reducing costs while affecting the classroom as little as possible,” Butz said.

Board member Linda McDonald agreed.

“I just appreciate you working with so many question marks,” she said, referring to the preliminary state budget.

Lesky asked board members to consider approving the cuts by next Monday's meeting.

"We need to act on eliminating those positions for the 2011-2012 school year," he said.