By Andrew Coen
Following the school board's direction, the District 15 administration pieced together a target budget increase of 3.5 percent for 2005-06, which is just above austerity. Despite efforts to hold onto as many programs as possible, some of the proposed cuts would greatly affect students, according to the PTA.
Besides the elimination of summer school for all grades and middle-school athletics, another casualty of the budget would be the Branching Out in New Directions (BOND) program, which assists struggling students.
The gloomy budget picture was presented by district officials at the April 5 school board work session.
District officials have said that in order to maintain all current programs and staff, a 7 percent increase would be necessary, but they are trying to reduce that number by half to have a realistic shot at passing the budget and avoiding a third straight year of operating under contingency. A 3.5 percent increase over the current budget of $85,417,887 would be just above the increase under contingency, 3.24 percent, according to Deirdre Gambino, Lawrence's assistant superintendent for business.
According to Lawrence school board President Kathy Raquet, cutting some of the programs troubles many board members, and it is likely that some may be restored before the board adopts the budget. "I would say there is no way to reach a 3.5 [percent increase] without further deteriorating our programs," Raquet said. "Why should we constantly have to take away from our children?"
Loss of summer school?
The loss of summer school for the elementary, middle and high school would mean that students who don't pass their grades might be required to repeat them unless they pay to attend summer programs in other districts. District officials said at the April 5 meeting that scrapping summer school would save around $250,000.
The absence of summer school would most affect the increasing number of English as a Second Language students, who rely on the extra classes so they can meet state requirements. "With increasing mandates from the state, it is vital for [the ESL students] to have summer school to be able to catch up with learning the language, because they are expected to meet these requirements just like the other students," said Raquet, who tutors ESL students.
Middle-school athletics
If Lawrence Middle School athletics were slashed, they would be replaced with intramural programs, according to district officials. But Lawrence Athletic Director Patrick Pizzarelli said that, if possible, he would like to continue to have Lawrence teams competing against other schools because of the great sports tradition the school has developed. "We have a rich tradition of athletics here in Lawrence," said Pizzarelli, who estimated that 500 to 600 middle-school students participate in sports each year. "If you're going to look at putting programs back in, please don't forget about our Lawrence Middle School athletic programs."
District officials estimate that cutting the middle-school sports program and replacing it with intramurals would save around $100,000. The proposal is in stark contrast to the Hewlett-Woodmere and Rockville Centre school districts, which are both exploring adding separate seventh- and eighth-grade teams in boys' and girls' basketball and volleyball to provide more opportunities for students. "It's particularly upsetting when our neighboring districts are adding sports to the middle school and we are faced with eliminating all competitive sports in our middle school," said Nikki Greene-Douglas, co-president of Lawrence Central Council PTA.
BOND program
Cutting the Branching Out in New Directions (BOND) program, which has 48 students and five teachers this year, would save around $360,000, according to district officials. Many students from the alternative program, where the aim is to improve academic achievement among struggling students, flocked to the Dec. 21 school board meeting to voice support for the program's coordinator, Joseph Cardello, whose position was nearly cut earlier this year. "The BOND program would be a huge loss because this program, which has a huge success rate, gives students a real opportunity to strive to do well in school," said Greene-Douglas.
The current budget of $85,417,887 is a 2.4 percent increase over the 2003-04 budget, after District 15 voters rejected two proposed budgets of roughly $87 million last May 18 and June 22. Lawrence Superintendent Dr. John Fitzsimons said at a recent meeting that a 3.5 percent budget increase would result in a tax rate for homeowners of somewhere between 6 and 9 percent, depending on variables like state aid and assessments.
PTA members are also upset over some of the administrative changes that would occur with a 3.5 percent hike, including a consolidation of the art- and music-director positions. Many parents are concerned that combining the two positions could compromise the two programs, both of which have a tradition of success in Lawrence.
High school reorganization
Lawrence High School PTA presidents Janice Goorland and Marcia Ringelheim expressed concern about the planned reorganization at the high school, where six dean's positions would be eliminated and replaced by two new assistant principals who would handle all discipline matters.
"We have safety issues that we're very concerned about," said Goorland of how having no deans could make it harder for the school to handle discipline and behavior issues.
"In order to get to the [3.5 percent target number], we had to make some very difficult decisions," said Michelle L. Lineal, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
A total of 35.7 staff positions would be eliminated in a 3.5 percent budget increase, including 13.7 faculty, 19 support staff and three administrators. School board member Anthony Licatesi expressed concern at the meeting that the district may not be able to attract top-notch young teachers in the future, since many staff positions were lost last year as well. "Can we attract young, energetic school teachers to this school district if this continues to happen every year?" said Licatesi.
Lineal gave a budget presentation at the April 5 meeting, outlining some of the cuts that could be made at the elementary-school level: the elimination of the enrichment portion of the Gifted and Talented Program as well as a reduction in resources allocated to the ESL program. A slight increase in class size and a reduction of classes at the Number Four School would also figure into the board's target budget number, according to district officials.
Budget breakdown
District officials have said that the budget increase for 2005-06 will go mainly to salary increases, insurance premiums, retirement contributions and utilities costs. The $88,406,950 budget being proposed would include 11.8 percent for general support, 59.2 percent for instructional costs, 8.5 percent for transportation costs and 20.5 percent for employee benefits.
Budget items that would see increases include $227,557 in non-public-school transportation, $235,060 in Pupil and Personnel Services supervision and $480,000 in health insurance and Medicare refunds.
The budget is scheduled to be adopted at the April 20 school board meeting at 8 p.m. at Lawrence Middle School. Voters will have the final say when they cast their ballots on May 17.
Comments about this story? ACoen@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
