Getting ready for back-to-school can be a stressful time for teachers in the best of circumstances, but for two districts in Cayuga County, the march to opening day is proving to be even more challenging.
Port Byron and Cato-Meridian were the only districts in the county to have teachers cut during the budget process. Now, as class lists are being finalized, the repercussions of those cuts are becoming a reality.
Port Byron Central School Superintendent Neil O'Brien said that when state aid did not increase with expenses, it forced the school board to make tough choices.
One high school business teacher, two elementary school teachers, two teachers aides, a half-time guidance counselor and two part-time school resource officers were eliminated to bring the district to a $14.7-million budget.
The second-and fifth-grade classes each lost a section, increasing class sizes to about 25 students per class in second grade, and 27 students in fifth grade.
"With 27 students, both instructionally and environmentally, you are at the high end of where you want to be," O'Brien said. "You want to make sure no child gets lost."
Concerns at the second grade level are developmental, and catching those students who are taking longer to read. Fifth-grade students have a big transition year, learning their locker combinations, changing classes and beginning puberty all at the same time.
During the recent orientation for fifth-grade parents, O'Brien fielded questions from unhappy parents worried about their children.
"Nobody want to see larger class sizes," O'Brien said.
He pointed out that there were cuts to field trips, supplies and the loss of the elementary school counselor. Plus, the district used money from its fund balance to make the budget.
"I don't know anybody who advocates higher class sizes, or taking money out of a savings account to pay the bills," O'Brien said.
Cheryl Schulte, president of the Port Byron Teachers' Association, and an earth science teacher at the high school, said she has heard from both second- and fifth-grade teachers expressing concerns over the large class sizes.
"They're preaching to the choir," Schulte said. "Whenever we get classes that large, the kids suffer."
Both O'Brien and Schulte think the state's late budget and the adding of unfunded state and federal mandates under the No Child Left Behind act, are hurting schools.
"We didn't know our (state aid) numbers until last week," O'Brien said. "It puts a strain on school districts."
The elimination of the high school business teacher means that students will not have as many electives to choose from.
Schulte is concerned over the loss of the elementary guidance counselor, who often served as an intermediary for students and the services they needed.
Her advice to teachers and parents unhappy with the cuts is to get involved.
"I would encourage them to be part of the budget process from the beginning," Schulte said. "They will have the opportunity to have input and share concerns from the beginning."
O'Brien has met with teachers and knows they are working to overcome the challenges.
"They do that out of a love for teaching," O'Brien said. "The concern is that we reach all kids."
"Everybody is going to work hard to make sure students aren't lost," Schulte said.
Teachers at Cato will not have quite as large classes as their Port Byron counterparts, but they lost more of their colleagues - 11 teachers and five teacher aides and assistants were cut.
One teacher per grade level was cut in the elementary, with additional cuts to the middle school and high school.
The cuts resulted in kindergarten class sizes of about 20 students, fourth-grade classes of 25, and sixth-grade classes of 26.
"There is the concern in the middle school about the academic intervention services positions that were cut," said Cecilia Kurpita, teachers' association co-president and fourth-grade teacher. "Teachers in fifth and sixth grade will pick up AIS. We're really concerned in the middle school if they will have enough staff to provide the services."
Those teachers will now have to teach their own students, and provide AIS to students during a study hall period.
In the past, when current Superintendent Deborah Bobo was the elementary school principal, Kurpita said class sizes were kept small.
"Debbie Bobo did an excellent job maintaining low class sizes for many years in the elementary school," Kurpita said. "The outcome was our test scores were very good. Unfortunately with this budget, and cutting back staff, we've gone back to the way we were." An art and business teacher were eliminated, along with technology teacher Earl Billings who ran the district's popular Sun Pacer solar car program.
"We're concerned because there are less teachers and less class offerings," Wieland said.
Students will find themselves in study halls, when they may have had a technology class, Wieland said, plus they lose the opportunity to prepare for college by not having those classes.
"This will increase some class sizes," Wieland said. "I feel bad for the kids. They're the ones feeling the brunt of it."
Staff writer Shelly Oddo can be reached at 253-5311 ext 248 or shelly.oddo@lee.net.
Port Byron Central School Superintendent Neil O'Brien said that when state aid did not increase with expenses, it forced the school board to make tough choices.
One high school business teacher, two elementary school teachers, two teachers aides, a half-time guidance counselor and two part-time school resource officers were eliminated to bring the district to a $14.7-million budget.
The second-and fifth-grade classes each lost a section, increasing class sizes to about 25 students per class in second grade, and 27 students in fifth grade.
"With 27 students, both instructionally and environmentally, you are at the high end of where you want to be," O'Brien said. "You want to make sure no child gets lost."
Concerns at the second grade level are developmental, and catching those students who are taking longer to read. Fifth-grade students have a big transition year, learning their locker combinations, changing classes and beginning puberty all at the same time.
During the recent orientation for fifth-grade parents, O'Brien fielded questions from unhappy parents worried about their children.
"Nobody want to see larger class sizes," O'Brien said.
He pointed out that there were cuts to field trips, supplies and the loss of the elementary school counselor. Plus, the district used money from its fund balance to make the budget.
"I don't know anybody who advocates higher class sizes, or taking money out of a savings account to pay the bills," O'Brien said.
Cheryl Schulte, president of the Port Byron Teachers' Association, and an earth science teacher at the high school, said she has heard from both second- and fifth-grade teachers expressing concerns over the large class sizes.
"They're preaching to the choir," Schulte said. "Whenever we get classes that large, the kids suffer."
Both O'Brien and Schulte think the state's late budget and the adding of unfunded state and federal mandates under the No Child Left Behind act, are hurting schools.
"We didn't know our (state aid) numbers until last week," O'Brien said. "It puts a strain on school districts."
The elimination of the high school business teacher means that students will not have as many electives to choose from.
Schulte is concerned over the loss of the elementary guidance counselor, who often served as an intermediary for students and the services they needed.
Her advice to teachers and parents unhappy with the cuts is to get involved.
"I would encourage them to be part of the budget process from the beginning," Schulte said. "They will have the opportunity to have input and share concerns from the beginning."
O'Brien has met with teachers and knows they are working to overcome the challenges.
"They do that out of a love for teaching," O'Brien said. "The concern is that we reach all kids."
"Everybody is going to work hard to make sure students aren't lost," Schulte said.
Teachers at Cato will not have quite as large classes as their Port Byron counterparts, but they lost more of their colleagues - 11 teachers and five teacher aides and assistants were cut.
One teacher per grade level was cut in the elementary, with additional cuts to the middle school and high school.
The cuts resulted in kindergarten class sizes of about 20 students, fourth-grade classes of 25, and sixth-grade classes of 26.
"There is the concern in the middle school about the academic intervention services positions that were cut," said Cecilia Kurpita, teachers' association co-president and fourth-grade teacher. "Teachers in fifth and sixth grade will pick up AIS. We're really concerned in the middle school if they will have enough staff to provide the services."
Those teachers will now have to teach their own students, and provide AIS to students during a study hall period.
In the past, when current Superintendent Deborah Bobo was the elementary school principal, Kurpita said class sizes were kept small.
"Debbie Bobo did an excellent job maintaining low class sizes for many years in the elementary school," Kurpita said. "The outcome was our test scores were very good. Unfortunately with this budget, and cutting back staff, we've gone back to the way we were." An art and business teacher were eliminated, along with technology teacher Earl Billings who ran the district's popular Sun Pacer solar car program.
"We're concerned because there are less teachers and less class offerings," Wieland said.
Students will find themselves in study halls, when they may have had a technology class, Wieland said, plus they lose the opportunity to prepare for college by not having those classes.
"This will increase some class sizes," Wieland said. "I feel bad for the kids. They're the ones feeling the brunt of it."
Staff writer Shelly Oddo can be reached at 253-5311 ext 248 or shelly.oddo@lee.net.