The fiscal squeeze in the Ramapo Central School District has abated some since the critical 2013-14 budget crunch, though Sloatsburg Elementary School did lose the library services, Family Resource Center, Homework Club, and Camp Mariah.

Dr. Douglas Adams, who joined Ramapo Central School District in 2011 and has rapidly reshaped the district, ramping up public communications and district technology.

Superintendent Douglas Adams came on board in 2011, taking over where Robert McNaughton left off. McNaughton had been Ramapo Central Superintendent since 1998, and his tenure was marked by a rapidly growing growing district, increased budgets that at times included 10% tax increases or more.

It was also the time of the frothy Great Real Estate Bubble, where people across the country bought and sold properties with abandon. McNaughton’s last budget in 2011-12 was approximately $123 million. He also negotiated the last Ramapo Central district collective bargaining agreement with teachers.

Fast forward to Tuesday’s school board elections, where district cost containment and continuing district quality of education are two primary issues. The 2015-16 proposed budget is $131.6 million with a 1.54% tax levy increase.

3 School Board seats and 4 candidates

The school board has three entirely new members out of seven since Dr. Adams was hired. With Thomas Bollatto’s exit this June, Craig Long will become the longest tenured board member, having been first elected in 2002. Long, village, town and county historian, was board president when Dr. Adams joined the district.

Clarke Osborn is running again for a seat on the Ramapo Central School Board. Theresa DiFalco, current BOE president is running again, as is 10 year board veteran Teresa Monahan, and newcomer Joe Gravagna.

Three board seats are up during Tuesday’s election — Teresa Monahan, an operations consultant with McDonald’s, is running for another term (she was first elected in 2005), current board president Theresa DiFalco is running again, former board member Clarke Osborn is running, and Joseph Gravagna is campaigning for a seat.

The Ramapo Teacher Association endorsed Osborn, calling the decision a “no brainer.” Osborn is Chief of the Suffern Police Department and enjoys solid local support. The RTA also endorsed  Gravagna, saying that the candidate’s “not polished, but we don’t care. . . . Despite his shortcomings, we still feel he is a better candidate than DiFalco and Monahan.”

Gravagna’s run has stirred up some controversy, covered in more detail by Richard Gandon. The crux of the Gravagna gripe is that he is an unknown who has repeatedly run for office and might be too antagonistic and/or unpredictable.

The RTA has called out both DiFalco, an attorney and former Rockland County DA, as tone deaf to her constituents. Citing DiFalco’s support of Common Core testing and district policy over individual education, the RTA  years, took a broad swipe at the board, saying “the current majority has bullied, demeaned, marginalized and disregarded other board members and the public at large.”

A changing school district 

The RTA swipe at DiFalco may be part political and part posturing as Ramapo Central is currently engaged in hardball contract negotiations with the group. The larger focus may be critical of Superintendent Douglas Adams and his apparent expansion of administrative layers — in fact, Dr. Adams inherited the admin structure put in place by McNaughton. The assistant superintendents have taken a more public and active role under Dr. Adams.*

There has also also been exponential increase in detailed and “wonkish” presentations of both district fiscal focus and educational efforts at board meetings, as well as a ramped up stream of district communication at the revamped.

Adams was hired partly for his pedigree and skill set. A one-time math teacher at Suffern High School and Don Bosco, a graduate of West Point with a Ph.D. in education from the University of Arkansas, and law degree from the University of Florida, Adams has quickly remade the district into one that reflects his educational sensibilities — one that takes a cost containment and conservative fiscal approach as Ramapo Central deals with cuts in state and wrestles with property tax caps in a world of declining property values and tax base.

Ramapo Central has focused on improving district technology as it applies to continuing education for staff and student education, as well as an additional focus on technology and science in the district curriculum. Central to everything the district does are the ever-present state policy and fiscal mandates, Common Core requirements and the ever shifting quicksilver of teacher skills.

Ramapo Teacher Association protects its turf

The Ramapo Teacher Association has a huge task, advocating for current teachers and helping to protect hard fought benefits of its retired members. There are policy battles, Common Core confusion and the growing corporate bite out of the education apple, state and public perceptions that often devalue teacher contributions, state emphasis on teaching to the test, and the list goes on.

The Ramapo Teacher Association made a colorful showing during the contentious Ramapo Central public budget discussions several years ago, which ultimately ended up with the BOE cutting some district personnel and programs.

On the local level the RTA represents members who account for 69% of the district’s budget. Out of the proposed 2015-16 budget of approximately $130 million, teacher salaries make up $61 million or 45% of the total. With benefits at some $33 million, the total for salary and benefits hits 69% (district charts put that percent at 71%). So, when the district looks to save costs, where does it look last and longest?

The contentious 2013/14 school budget process changed district dynamics when the board determined to cut personnel and programs instead of going over the tax cap. The public apparently agreed with the decision as the school budget that year ($128 million) passed by a relative landslide — 1,602-528. The implied consensus was that district residents agreed with the Board of Education to hold the line on taxes while the district streamlined the system to meet budget demands.

School Board member Thomas Bollatto from Sloatsburg has served on the board since 1988 and will step down at the end of June. During his tenure the small district has grown rapidly while earning a reputation for providing students an excellent public school education.

The demands on district teachers are enormous and diverse. What parent hasn’t been frustrated by a teacher who apparently has opted to teach to some test-taking format and in the process off-load homework onto the student? And who hasn’t griped about teacher salaries and benefits? Yet parents want vital, invested, skilled and devoted teachers for their students, who give both individual attention and lead the class on interesting educational forays.

But teachers cost time and money and are pulled in many directions by district policies, professional demands and classroom responsibilities.

Clarke Osborn as SPD Cheif would be perhaps the one board of education member who regularly must weigh and balance his department’s budget with the considerations of contracts and village demands and the diverse and numerous demands on police officers, both professionally and from the public.

Other school budget minutiae

The 2015/16 proposed Ramapo Central school budget is approximately $131 million with a 1% year to year budget increase and 1.54% tax levy increase. The other district expenditures include $10 million for special eduction, $7 for overall debt service, $7.6 million for transportation costs which includes both private and public transportation mandates, $2.9 million for buildings and grounds, $2.5 for technology, and $2.7 for BOCES.

* According to the Ramapo Central School District, Superintendent Douglas Adams inherited the same assistant supervisor administration structure that existed under former RCSD Superintendent Robert McNaughton.

Residents of the Ramapo Central School District will vote Tuesday, May 19, on the proposed 2015-16 school budget and also elect Board of Education members for three available seats. Candidates are: Theresa DiFalco, Joseph Gravagna, Teresa Monahan, and Clarke Osborn. Polls are open from 6am-9pm. Voters must report to their assigned school budget election district. Not sure where to go? Call (845) 357-7783 x11234 to confirm your polling place.

Polling locations are as follows:

• Cherry Lane Elementary School, 1 Heather Drive, Suffern
• Hillburn Administration Building, 45 Mountain Avenue, Hillburn
• RP Connor Elementary School, 13 Cypress Road, Suffern
• Sloatsburg Elementary School, 11 Second Street, Sloatsburg
• Suffern Middle School, 80 Hemion Road, Suffern