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Greece, N.Y. —
At a Greece school board meeting Tuesday night, interim superintendent John O'Rourke proposed a school budget that would slash 89 full-time staff positions from the Greece school district, reduce music education, and merge sports programs.
O'Rourke, a former superintendent of Pittsford Central Schools who has also led the Shenendehowa Central School District in Clifton Park, NY and the Howard County Public School System in Maryland, a district of 48,000 students, called this year's budget process in the Greece Central School District the "single most difficult budget" of his career.
The proposed $195 million budget would increase the tax rate 1.68 percent, bringing it to $22.92 per $1,000 assessed value.
The budget calls for a reduction of elementary classroom time by 30 minutes a day, an increase in class sizes, the elimination of 4th grade music, reductions of instrumental and vocal music, and cuts to elementary art and library.
The plan would also consolidate sports programs, by merging boys tennis, merging the district's wrestling program, eliminating funding for gymnastics and delaying the start of the winter season by one week, which would consequently reduce ice time for hockey players.
O'Rourke's budget proposal comes in the wake of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposal to cut school aid by $1.5 billion, a trend O'Rourke says will only continue.
"We can't afford to concentrate on just one year. There will be a series of challenging years," he said.
By eliminating 89 positions in the district, which includes administrative, teaching and pupil service workers (social workers and nurses), the district will save an estimated $4 million, said assistant superintendent of the district, Louis Alaimo.
Currently, salaries and benefits make up 75 percent of the district's budget.
Greece voters will go to the polls on May 17 to vote on the proposed budget.
Two community meetings will be held next month to provide interested community members with information about the proposed 2011-12 school budget.
Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Support Lou Alaimo and other school district leaders will present at both sessions, which are sponsored by the Greece Parent-Teacher Association Council. The meetings are open to the general public and will provide time for questions and answers.
The meetings will take place on Thursday, April 14 at 7 p.m. at Arcadia Middle School in the cafeteria, and also on Thursday, April 28 at 7 p.m. in the Olympia High School cafeteria.
To view and download the budget, click here
At a Greece school board meeting Tuesday night, interim superintendent John O'Rourke proposed a school budget that would slash 89 full-time staff positions from the Greece school district, reduce music education, and merge sports programs.
O'Rourke, a former superintendent of Pittsford Central Schools who has also led the Shenendehowa Central School District in Clifton Park, NY and the Howard County Public School System in Maryland, a district of 48,000 students, called this year's budget process in the Greece Central School District the "single most difficult budget" of his career.
The proposed $195 million budget would increase the tax rate 1.68 percent, bringing it to $22.92 per $1,000 assessed value.
The budget calls for a reduction of elementary classroom time by 30 minutes a day, an increase in class sizes, the elimination of 4th grade music, reductions of instrumental and vocal music, and cuts to elementary art and library.
The plan would also consolidate sports programs, by merging boys tennis, merging the district's wrestling program, eliminating funding for gymnastics and delaying the start of the winter season by one week, which would consequently reduce ice time for hockey players.
O'Rourke's budget proposal comes in the wake of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposal to cut school aid by $1.5 billion, a trend O'Rourke says will only continue.
"We can't afford to concentrate on just one year. There will be a series of challenging years," he said.
By eliminating 89 positions in the district, which includes administrative, teaching and pupil service workers (social workers and nurses), the district will save an estimated $4 million, said assistant superintendent of the district, Louis Alaimo.
Currently, salaries and benefits make up 75 percent of the district's budget.
Greece voters will go to the polls on May 17 to vote on the proposed budget.
Two community meetings will be held next month to provide interested community members with information about the proposed 2011-12 school budget.
Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Support Lou Alaimo and other school district leaders will present at both sessions, which are sponsored by the Greece Parent-Teacher Association Council. The meetings are open to the general public and will provide time for questions and answers.
The meetings will take place on Thursday, April 14 at 7 p.m. at Arcadia Middle School in the cafeteria, and also on Thursday, April 28 at 7 p.m. in the Olympia High School cafeteria.
To view and download the budget, click here
