League Reviews School Budget Choices for 2011-12

The League of Women Voters met with representatives of the Scarsdale School Board and the administration to review the proposed school budget for 2011-12 on March 21.

In past years, school budget announcements would include a list of new initiatives, programs and improved facilities… but in recent years discussion has revolved around what’s still funded and what had to go. The current proposed budget includes 10% in cuts to non-salary items but continues support for curriculum and includes a new Mandarin language program in the high school. Overall budget growth is now projected to be 2.85% over the 2010-11 school budget but would translate to a 5% tax increase. It projects the loss of 4.85 positions with the addition of 1.7 positions for the new Mandarin program. In addition, the budget allows for two undesignated teaching positions for teachers who will be hired to meet the needs of the district when enrollment numbers for next year are finalized.

At the budget forum, League members posed questions to the Board and Administration and the first one dealt with school budget reserves. Linda Purvis let the group know that in a survey of 14 Westchester school districts Scarsdale had lower reserves than average and maintains less than the legal maximum of 4% of the budget in reserve. At the end of last year the district applied $6.4 million in reserves to the 2010-11 budget and this year they plan to apply $6.9 million to the budget, leaving $5.1 million in reserve. This is necessary because there are unknowns due to the self insured health plan and tax grievances.

The conversation then turned to maintenance issues since the budget for facilities maintenance and repairs has fallen 50% in the last four years. The League wanted to know what work needed to be done but will not be done due to budget cuts. Purvis reported that there are about $4 million in projects that will need to be addressed in the new few years. This year, rather than paint the trim on three schools they are only painting two. Though there are many broken seats in the high school auditorium, the budget does not allow for $200,000 to purchase new seats. In addition, the High School fitness center needs to be renovated but they have not been able to undertake this project. The ventilation systems in several elementary school gyms need replacement, so this year they will replace the system at Fox Meadow but could not undertake a new ventilation system at Edgewood.

On collective bargaining and the teacher’s contract, Superintendant McGill said, “We pay teachers well relative to other districts in the state and the country. Our talent pool is well above the average, and Scarsdale teachers are willing to do more and spend extra time with students during the day. District teachers now recognize that we cannot continue to be ahead of the curve in terms of salaries. The leadership is not looking to outstrip salaries in other districts.”

He added that “Last year in Westchester, there was an overall average increase in salary for teachers of 2.5% . It was not 0%.” Negotiations will begin for the next contract in the spring of 2013 and the administration will strive to balance between reining in costs and assuring good work from teachers and assuring them of their value.

In response to a question about the districts helping teachers, (3 in math and 1 in science) McGill emphasized the importance of teacher support, saying that, “we believe that we need a system and collaboration. Positions that help teachers build capacity are critical but are not very visible. We have already eliminated two helping teacher positions in social studies and English. There is no direct teacher coordination of programs in this area. We are already absorbing that loss. We no longer have the science and math enrichment teacher either. However we have invested our resources in math. We are now doing lesson study and more teacher collaboration and group instruction. That’s what makes teaching better. In the 2012-13 budget we may have to go back to the individual teacher model if we are forced to cut these support positions.”

In response to other questions about resource allocation, McGill gave the following responses:

“Kindergarten Dance helps to meet the physical education state requirement and is part of the critical thinking initiative. The dance program teaches children to notice, see from all perspectives, and develop important basic skills. This is not frivolous.”

In terms of elementary school language instruction he said, “You could argue that kids are not getting much out of elementary Spanish. But until they get to 8th grade, we won’t know. Results show that though they don’t make much progress in the first few years, they build a knowledge and language facility base that will allow them to take off in later grades. It would be short sighted to stop now before we can see the impact.”

On district consultants, McGill said that “we spend $450,000 overall. Of that, $320,000 is for special education. We also utilize Charlotte Danielson, an internationally known consultant who evaluates our curriculum and Steven Leinwand to advise us on the math program and assessments. Last, we retain consultants who work with Middle School students on empathy and to teach positive coaching techniques.”

On the implementation of the new Mandarin program at the high school, McGill said, “if we did not do it this year, it might never have happened. If a tax cap is imposed it would become very difficult to implement a new program. There will be immense pressure to contain costs. Though it would have made more sense to add it in the middle school it was too expensive.”

Due to time limitations, the meeting ended there, with a promise of a discussion about the establishment of a school foundation for the Board of Education meeting that night, March 21.

Pictured above: From the left: Amy Scharf, Angela Manson, Suzanne Seiden, Jill Spieler, Barbara Kemp, Mary Beth Gose
Photo credit: Sara Werder