Parents and teachers filled the room to overflow at the last Ramapo Central Board of Education meeting. The BOE discussion focused on personnel and program reductions throughout district schools, mostly in non-mandated programs and retirements.
Tuesday’s meeting will get to specific personnel cuts, including recommended reductions in teaching staff to help close the district’s budget gap. The call by parent groups has gone out to make a showing at the BOE meeting.
Suffern High School’s Spring Musical just ended this past weekend, and nearly all shows were filled to capacity at the school’s auditorium. The school plays involve nearly every facet of the school’s arts programs.
In the halls before and after the play, parents held quiet conversations on the impending downsizing of Ramapo Central — and the consequences program and staff cuts will have on the the district.
One group in particular was busy taking signatures for a petition to protect the district’s band program. The Halftimers, a coalition of parents with students involved in music programs, either through band or orchestra, called on the district to reconsider any cuts.
“The music program is the face of the district,” said a letter written by the Halftimers to District Superintendent Dr. Douglas Adams and the BOE. “When the Ice Hockey team won the state championship, it was the Marching Band that led them on their victory parade down Lafayette Avenue.”
The superintendent’s office is in the process of proposing phased solutions to close a $10 million district budget gap for the 2013-2014 budget year. Phases I-III actions would reduce the district budget deficit approximately $8.3 million and include such measures as anticipated tax revenues, use of $1.5 million in district reserve funds, and elimination of non-mandated programs and personnel through attrition and retirement.
“Our task is to determine budget priorities which strike a balance between an ideal educational program and the economic reality of the district’s fiscal ability to support the program,” said Adams, regarding the on-going budget workshops. Significant district cost drivers are increases in retirement benefits coupled with contracted salary increases that together account for some $7 million dollars of the deficit.
At the last budget workshop meeting, John Canty, president of the Ramapo Teachers Association (RTA), took to the podium and said, “I think it’s time to bust the cap,” referring to the NY State law that caps annual increases in local property taxes.
The essential equation is how can Ramapo Central remain the highly attractive school district it is while holding the line on spending and tax increases? Follow the Halftimer’s example and make your voice known to both your local elected school board officials and state representatives.
The next Ramapo Central School Board Budget Workshop will be held Tuesday, March 19, from 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Hillburn Administrative Offices in Hillburn, NY. The workshop will focus on possible staff and program reductions to narrow the projected district budget deficit. The meeting is open for the community to attend. Call the District offices with additional information at 845.357.7783.
