Otselic Valley School Board approves $8.9M budget
GEORGETOWN – The Otselic Valley Central School District Board of Education, joined by approximately 20 community members and faculty, unanimously approved the 2010-2011 school budget. The district is facing a 5.89 percent reduction in state aid due to Governor David A. Paterson’s proposed $328,389 in cuts.
Interim Superintendent Linda Taylor reported that the board had made “minimal changes” to the budget since the last budget workshop on March 31.
“We tried, successfully I think, to maintain our instructional program while minimizing the effects on taxpayers,” stated Taylor. “All of our early planning and preparation really helped us to get through this and this was a cooperative effort.”
The 2010-2011 Otselic Valley School budget came in at $8,923,487, down 1.47 percent from the 2009-2010 school year. The tax levy increase, originally proposed at 5.26 percent before dropping to 3.67, was approved at 2.56 percent.
Total administrative and programs costs showed a reduction, 1.9 percent and 2.05 percent respectively, while capital costs increased 1.94 percent, due to employee benefits.
No student clubs or activities will be canceled at this time, according to David Cruikshank, the board president, who added that the Georgetown Elementary School and the Junior/Senior High School will not merge, a move the board had considered, but ultimately rejected.
Cruikshank said that while he understood citizens are already reeling financially, there’s a “fine line between what we can do and can’t do,” and he urged those in attendance to remain in contact with state leaders because “next year looks to be worse than this year.”
“There’s not a lot more that we can cut,” stated Cruikshank. “We’ll continue to stay on top of it and be innovative and make this thing work.”
The board announced the abolishment of a high school English position, an elementary principal and two teaching positions, a bus driver and four Licensed Teaching Assistants. A science position, as well as a home and careers position, will be half-time next year.
Cruikshank repeatedly stated that these cuts were announced “with much regret,” and said he understood the impact these cuts would have on the students.
“This has not been a fun situation and it’s not something we enjoy,” said Cruikshank. “We tried to save as many positions as we could.”
Interim Superintendent Linda Taylor reported that the board had made “minimal changes” to the budget since the last budget workshop on March 31.
“We tried, successfully I think, to maintain our instructional program while minimizing the effects on taxpayers,” stated Taylor. “All of our early planning and preparation really helped us to get through this and this was a cooperative effort.”
The 2010-2011 Otselic Valley School budget came in at $8,923,487, down 1.47 percent from the 2009-2010 school year. The tax levy increase, originally proposed at 5.26 percent before dropping to 3.67, was approved at 2.56 percent.
Total administrative and programs costs showed a reduction, 1.9 percent and 2.05 percent respectively, while capital costs increased 1.94 percent, due to employee benefits.
No student clubs or activities will be canceled at this time, according to David Cruikshank, the board president, who added that the Georgetown Elementary School and the Junior/Senior High School will not merge, a move the board had considered, but ultimately rejected.
Cruikshank said that while he understood citizens are already reeling financially, there’s a “fine line between what we can do and can’t do,” and he urged those in attendance to remain in contact with state leaders because “next year looks to be worse than this year.”
“There’s not a lot more that we can cut,” stated Cruikshank. “We’ll continue to stay on top of it and be innovative and make this thing work.”
The board announced the abolishment of a high school English position, an elementary principal and two teaching positions, a bus driver and four Licensed Teaching Assistants. A science position, as well as a home and careers position, will be half-time next year.
Cruikshank repeatedly stated that these cuts were announced “with much regret,” and said he understood the impact these cuts would have on the students.
“This has not been a fun situation and it’s not something we enjoy,” said Cruikshank. “We tried to save as many positions as we could.”
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