District 30 budget talk centers on services

A debate over psychologists and social workers led to more than two hours of budget discussion in District 30 on Monday night, before the Board of Education finally adopted its proposed 2011-12 spending plan which carries a 6.2 percent tax hike.

The budget presented by the administration called for three psychologists — one for each school — but the elimination of both of the district’s social workers. Several board members, however, raised objections to cutting social workers completely, and successfully fought to keep one full-time position.

Lisa Rutkoske, assistant superintendent for business, said the district was budgeting about $404,000 for the psychologists. Since one of them is retiring, however, Rutkoske said the district would save about $47,000 in salary and benefits by replacing that person next year with someone with less seniority and at a lower pay scale. She and Superintendent Dr. Elaine Kanas recommended using the savings to add a part-time social worker next year.

The plan was supported by Board of Education President Elise Antonelli and Trustee Ken Cummings. Antonelli suggested that the board approve it, and try to find other savings in the budget to increase the number of hours a social worker would spend in the district.

But Trustee Cristobal Stewart said he wanted a full-time social worker. Stewart noted that eliminating the position would hit Shaw Avenue School hard, since 90 percent of the students who receive social work services attend that school. He supported a plan to have two psychologists for the district and one social worker, and Trustees Jim Lavery and Carolyn Pean agreed. That plan will cost about $30,000 more because with one fewer psychologist, the district will have to contract out some special education work, such as chairing Committee on Special Education meetings.

“Social workers are integral members of the school team,” Stewart said. “They are not a luxury. They are not an interchangeable widget.”

While both positions deal with students for social issues, conflict mediation and counseling, as well as serving as child and family advocates, psychologists additionally can perform psychological evaluations, work with students on academic issues, serve as a behavioral specialist and makes diagnoses.

Because his plan has the support of the majority of the board, it was approved when the $32.3 million budget was adopted well after 11 p.m. Spending would increase by 3 percent next year, but, with a projected $660,000 cut to state aid, the tax levy is expected to increase by double that. The average homeowner would see a $90 increase in their elementary school taxes.

Parent Janice Francis had asked about keeping the three psychologists as well as a social worker, noting that that would only cost a few extra dollars per household. Antonelli explained that an item may seem small — $2 here or $4 there per household — but they add up. With District 30 already having one of the highest proposed tax levy increases in Nassau County, she said, the board simply couldn’t go any higher.

District officials already had to make cuts to avoid a 10 percent tax levy increase, which homeowners would have been faced with if all programs were kept as is. The district is facing a $1.6 million increase in pension contributions, health insurance costs and salary increases. “Doing nothing costs us $1.6 million more,” Kanas said.

While all programs are being maintained, some have been modified to cost less. The district is eliminating a science teacher and closing the Washington Avenue Kindergarten Center. Those three kindergarten classes, will be relocated to Shaw Avenue, where there will be extra space, then students will move on to Clear Stream Avenue School for first grade. Kanas said the district is already looking for possible renters. “That would be great if that could happen,” she said. “That would be extra money.”

She said she still would like to have three psychologists next year, and that she and the administration would go through the adopted budget to see if any additional cuts could be made to fund a third position, and come back to the board with those options. Kanas said she would need to find about $70,000.

Stewart, who called his plan a compromise, and other board members agreed that they would be open to suggestions to restore the third psychologist’s position without increasing the budget.