UV cuts jobs amid budget struggles
NEW BERLIN – In order to close an approximate $655,000 shortfall in the 2011-2012 budget, the Unadilla Valley School District announced it will cut 11 positions at the end of the current year.
With just over $700,000 in state aid reductions combined with the disappearance of federal stimulus funds and increasing costs, the district reported about a $1.3 million funding shortfall in planning the 2011-2012 budget.
The UV Board of Education decided to use $909,676 from the school’s $6.1 million reserve fund to help fill the gap. The school had already factored the savings of not replacing eight positions being lost to attrition at the end of the current school year.
The proposed $19,419,244 is 1 percent lower than the current budget and calls for no increase in taxes.
Superintendent Robert Mackey said the district was hoping to close some of the shortfall by asking for voluntary concessions from the Unadilla Valley Faculty Association. The union voted down two of the three measures last week.
The only measure to pass was to permanently freeze a temporary salary reduction for the school’s three sports coordinators, 28 coaches and 41 advisors at 62.5 percent of their fully contracted wage.
The school negotiated the temporary reduction in the wages last year which was estimated to save about $45,200. It’s expected to create a similar amount of savings in the coming budget, explained Mackey. The reduced contract rates will remain in effect until the current teacher’s union agreement expires in 2013.
Mackey claimed the two proposals that failed to pass could have saved the district approximately $170,000 more.
One measure asked union members to pay an increased co-pay for generic pharmaceutical brands from $5 to $10 and from $20 to $25 for named brand prescriptions. The proposal also would restrict the length of time a prescription can be filled and require 90 day prescriptions to have a second co-pay.
Mackey estimated the measure could have saved the district $100,000 in the coming year.
The second proposal that was voted down asked union members to forego their contracted $2,100 flat raise scheduled in the coming year followed by a 4.5 percent salary increase in the 2012-13 school year. The defeated proposal asked members to accept a a $1,050 flat raise in the coming year followed by only a 2.25 percent annual salary increase in the next.
Mackey estimated the measure could have restored around $70,000 to next year’s budget.
Despite most of the measures being voted down Mackey said the union, board and administration had a better working relationship than last year, when initial budget cuts by the state were announced.
“The union leadership was instrumental in helping to make this year easier; last year we had a lot of budget tension but not this year. We embarked together on the budget process, all aspects have been open to discussion at the negotiating table,” said Mackey.
He said the school had offered to give teachers more preparation and planning time for the concessions.
On Thursday, the school notified the 11 effected employees including: Two part-time elementary teachers, two licensed teacher assistants, a business teacher, who also teachers drivers’ education, a social studies teacher, four special education teacher aides and a custodian.
Mackey said the school was still trying to determine if it would seek to fill the elementary school principal’s position after current Principal Steve Bradley retires at the end of the year.
Eliminating the position would leave High School Principal Frank Johnson, the sole principal at the district’s central campus.
There will be a board meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at the school followed by a budget presentation in the auditorium at 7 p.m. Following the budget workshop, Mackey will introduce this year’s board of education candidates, who will have an opportunity to speak. There will not be a question and answer session, the district office stated.
There are five candidates and three open seats on the board. Current Board President Bill Lyons, who has served as a member since the school merged in 1996, will not be seeking reelection.
Current board members Victoria L. Gregory and John D. Elliot are again seeking their open seats. Sandra M. Cooper, who was appointed last year to temporary fill former board member Stan Foulds’ vacancy, will be seeking a seat. Kristin L. Rumovicz and Clifton J. Frank are also seeking election to the board.
With just over $700,000 in state aid reductions combined with the disappearance of federal stimulus funds and increasing costs, the district reported about a $1.3 million funding shortfall in planning the 2011-2012 budget.
The UV Board of Education decided to use $909,676 from the school’s $6.1 million reserve fund to help fill the gap. The school had already factored the savings of not replacing eight positions being lost to attrition at the end of the current school year.
The proposed $19,419,244 is 1 percent lower than the current budget and calls for no increase in taxes.
Superintendent Robert Mackey said the district was hoping to close some of the shortfall by asking for voluntary concessions from the Unadilla Valley Faculty Association. The union voted down two of the three measures last week.
The only measure to pass was to permanently freeze a temporary salary reduction for the school’s three sports coordinators, 28 coaches and 41 advisors at 62.5 percent of their fully contracted wage.
The school negotiated the temporary reduction in the wages last year which was estimated to save about $45,200. It’s expected to create a similar amount of savings in the coming budget, explained Mackey. The reduced contract rates will remain in effect until the current teacher’s union agreement expires in 2013.
Mackey claimed the two proposals that failed to pass could have saved the district approximately $170,000 more.
One measure asked union members to pay an increased co-pay for generic pharmaceutical brands from $5 to $10 and from $20 to $25 for named brand prescriptions. The proposal also would restrict the length of time a prescription can be filled and require 90 day prescriptions to have a second co-pay.
Mackey estimated the measure could have saved the district $100,000 in the coming year.
The second proposal that was voted down asked union members to forego their contracted $2,100 flat raise scheduled in the coming year followed by a 4.5 percent salary increase in the 2012-13 school year. The defeated proposal asked members to accept a a $1,050 flat raise in the coming year followed by only a 2.25 percent annual salary increase in the next.
Mackey estimated the measure could have restored around $70,000 to next year’s budget.
Despite most of the measures being voted down Mackey said the union, board and administration had a better working relationship than last year, when initial budget cuts by the state were announced.
“The union leadership was instrumental in helping to make this year easier; last year we had a lot of budget tension but not this year. We embarked together on the budget process, all aspects have been open to discussion at the negotiating table,” said Mackey.
He said the school had offered to give teachers more preparation and planning time for the concessions.
On Thursday, the school notified the 11 effected employees including: Two part-time elementary teachers, two licensed teacher assistants, a business teacher, who also teachers drivers’ education, a social studies teacher, four special education teacher aides and a custodian.
Mackey said the school was still trying to determine if it would seek to fill the elementary school principal’s position after current Principal Steve Bradley retires at the end of the year.
Eliminating the position would leave High School Principal Frank Johnson, the sole principal at the district’s central campus.
There will be a board meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at the school followed by a budget presentation in the auditorium at 7 p.m. Following the budget workshop, Mackey will introduce this year’s board of education candidates, who will have an opportunity to speak. There will not be a question and answer session, the district office stated.
There are five candidates and three open seats on the board. Current Board President Bill Lyons, who has served as a member since the school merged in 1996, will not be seeking reelection.
Current board members Victoria L. Gregory and John D. Elliot are again seeking their open seats. Sandra M. Cooper, who was appointed last year to temporary fill former board member Stan Foulds’ vacancy, will be seeking a seat. Kristin L. Rumovicz and Clifton J. Frank are also seeking election to the board.
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