S-G cuts $1 million, trims 21 positions By MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SCOTIA - The latest Scotia-Glenville school budget contains more than $1 million in cuts and trims at least 21 positions but retains team teaching, most sports and other programs and services. The $35 million budget carries a projected tax rate increase of between 7.6 percent and 9.6 percent. A home assessed at $100,000 would pay an extra $240 in taxes next year under this budget. While Board of Education members have not adopted it as the final budget, there was a consensus at Monday night's meeting they were comfortable with the numbers. The board must adopt a budget by April 14, and district residents will vote on it on May 20. "We'll make final decisions after next week's budget community forum," said board President Kurt Ahnert. The board directed Superintendent Michael Marcelle two weeks ago to trim the initial budget, which carried a tax rate increase of more than 17 percent, while preserving several "priority areas." Ahnert said the areas were library media specialists, advanced placement courses at the high school, after-school activities involving advisers and the middle school teaching concept. The board also directed Marcelle to spread out the cuts such that "everyone share in the pain," Ahnert said. The revised budget cuts five teaching positions at the primary school level, which would increase class sizes slightly; reduces the gifted and talent program; eliminates the summer school program and field trips; and eliminates instructional equipment and other items. At the secondary level, the budget would eliminate one sixth-grade teaching positions, almost five other non-mandated teaching positions and one administrator's position. It also cuts field trips, supplies, equipment and a clerical staff position for grades 6-12. Under non-instruction, the budget eliminates nearly nine cleaning position, requiring that the district clean areas every other day. It also reduces or eliminates intramurals, scrimmages, non-league contests, police coverage and modified seventh-grade sports. Marcelle recommended the district contribute $10,000 to fund the town Police Department's school resource officer at the high school. Eleven people from a crowd of more than 75 spoke during a community forum on the budget. The majority praised the district for not making drastic cuts in the budget while others urged the board to cut deeper. Dirk Francois, a father of four children in the district, said the board should not cut teachers but should instead eliminate programs and services that affect small numbers of students. "Stop the cycle of spend, spend and then cut," he said. He urged the board to dig deeper and make permanent any cuts it makes to the budget. Rick Sawyer said the district should cut teachers' salaries by 5 percent to 10 percent rather than lay them off. "You can lower taxes by lowering teacher salaries for several years until the crisis passes," Sawyer said. Patty King said the district needs to publicize to the community that under the revised budget taxes would increase $240. "That's a relief to me. You need to get that number out there," she said. Jerry Moore said the present budget is "unacceptable. The teachers' union is not sharing the pain," as are the students and the taxpayers.