Scarsdale Administration and Board Answer Questions About the Proposed 2013-14 School Budget

Scarsdale School Superintendents and the leadership of the Scarsdale School Board came before the membership of the Scarsdale League of Women Voters on Monday March 18 for a frank discussion of the proposed $146 mm school budget for 2013-14. Led by LWVS School Budget Chair Pam Rubin, the panel reviewed the fund balance and the use of reserve funds, the proposed Wellness Center, long-term district plans, capital improvements, school security and staffing.

Superintendent McGill emphasized the challenge faced by the district, saying, "Everyone wants everything and low taxes too," and told the group that in the past five years "all of the easy savings have been wrung out" of the school budget. With 80% of the proposed budget increase mandated by the state to cover pension and retirement costs, the district has little leeway to invest in new initiatives and improve the school plant.

Assistant Superintendent Linda Purvis reviewed the district's fund balance and the use of reserves to fund the budget. She distributed numbers showing that the total fund balance peaked at $18.9 million in 2009-10, allowing the Board to use approximately $6 million a year, from 2008 – 2012 to fund the following year's budgets. Last year the Board made a decision to reduce their reliance on fund balances and draw down these funds. Consequently the 2012-13 budget includes $4,200,000 in reserved funds and for 2013-14 the Board is proposing to include $2,550,000 of reserves. Purvis explained that this reduction in the inclusion of reserves in the 2013-14 budget is the reason why the district's tax levy growth is 4.78% which is larger than the budget-to-budget increase of 3.11%.

Dr. McGill offered background on the proposal for a new Wellness Center to be built underneath the high school gym and explained how this fits into the district's long range planes. Though the Board included $350,000 in funds to renovate the existing fitness center in the 2012-13 budget, meetings with architect Peter Gisolfi convinced the administration that this was not in the best interest of the school. McGill explained that the space now occupied by the fitness center abuts both the high school cafeteria and the library and could later be used to increase the size of these overcrowded resources. Furthermore, the configuration of the current fitness center is tight and dark and would never be an optimal space for the placement and use of large fitness equipment. (Tours of the space are available through the Scarsdale High School P.T.A.)

According to McGill, moving the fitness center to the space underneath the gym answers many of the school's needs:

• Removes the fitness center from an undersized area
• Moves it to a larger, user friendly, open space
• Moves it to a more logical space near the lockers rooms and the gym.
• Creates a new space that is currently not in use.
• Opens up the space now occupied by the fitness center for future renovation
• Provides room for more flexible learning space, additional library space, additional cafeteria space, or a "makers space" for innovation.

Questions also arose about how students' dining needs would be met when 90 additional students enter the high school next year. According to Purvis, the high school will address crowding in the cafeteria by doing the following:

• Creating a third lunch period so that some students will eat during fourth period
• Adding additional seating to the cafeteria
• Adding seating and perhaps food service to the commons area
• Remove an existing office to accommodate more dining near the commons

Purvis explained that the construction of the new fitness center was the first piece of a long term, $22 million plan proposed by architect Peter Gisolfi in a review of the high school and all of the district's buildings. With interest rates at historic lows, Purvis said that the district might consider funding plant repairs and improvements with a bond – however this is not currently on the table.

Purvis distributed a list of proposed plant improvements that have not been included in this year's budget, but will need to be done sooner or later. Among the biggest ticket items were replacement of half of the flat roofs at Quaker Ridge School at $400,000, the renovation of Dean Field at $500,000 and the replacement of the turf field at the high school at $700,000.

Assistant Superintendent Joan Weber reviewed proposed staffing changes for the district including an increase of 3.4 civil service positions and a decrease in 4 teaching positions. Here are some notable items:

-There is one unassigned teacher in the budget – this position could be used at the high school pending student's class enrollment choices for next year.

-An English teacher has been added at the high school to accommodate increased enrollment

-A full time performing arts teacher will be added at the high school to replace the part-time teacher who is retiring.

-In response to increased use of technology in the schools two tech support positions have been added. The new staffers will free up the computer teachers to offer instruction rather than support. More students will be using personal devices and tech repair and support will be necessary, One of these positions is for a network administrator to accommodate increased use technology in the schools.

-Also proposed is a more controversial addition to the staff. The administration would like to hire a Communications Officer to update the website and maintain communication with students, teachers, parents and the community at large. They believe they need a person with greater skills and abilities to communicate with the public in a timely manner and maintain transparency.

-Three security officers are budgeted for the high school where an open campus makes it difficult to monitor traffic in and out of the school. The district is also considering outsourcing this function by using personnel from a security company.

-Two librarians will be eliminated – one at the middle school and the other at the high school. According to Weber there are many high quality library aids who can fill in, some whom are currently pursuing masters in library science.

-At the middle school, one Family and Consumer Science (formerly home economics) position will be eliminated through attrition. Both Maureen Ball and Dawn Rivellini have announced their retirements and only one will be replaced.

-A middle school math teacher will be reassigned to the high school.

-At the elementary schools, the district wide kindergarten dance teacher position will be eliminated and a half-time learning resources teacher will be eliminated in response to a decrease in the need for services.

Overall, there will be 21 staff retirements this year and the district is considering changes to personnel needs as these retirements occur.

School Board President Liz Guggenheimer reiterated that this is a period for dialogue on the preliminary budget and that she looks forward to receiving feedback on the budget at subsequent School Board meetings on April 8 and April 22.