POPLAR RIDGE - State officials last week declared that New York is in a recession and the Southern Cayuga Central School District Board of Education is taking that to heart.

During Monday's regular meeting, the board discussed, but ultimately did not approve, cutting personnel in the music department for the upcoming academic school year that begins in just one month.

Upon the recommendation of Superintendent Mary Kay Worth, the board appointed two band teachers to fill vacancies left by a resignation and a retirement earlier this year, but not without some members questioning why the district needs more than one.

Board member Joe Lonsky initially questioned why it is necessary to have two instrumental teachers given decreased enrollment and the state of the economy, suggesting the district instead hire just one instead of potentially laying someone off later in the school year.

“There is a storm coming and Governor (David) Paterson made that very clear,” he said. “To not act as prudently as we can with expenditures is not financially responsible.

“You can bury your head in the sand,” he later added, “or you can be proactive about it.”

Some board members started wondering aloud whether it is feasible to have one band teacher while others pressed to appoint both since that was what voters approved in the 2008-09 budget in June.

Board member Steve Morse said that community members during meetings prior to the budget vote expressed a strong desire to keep the music department intact this year, and the board has a duty to keep to its promise to the public.

“I think we have an obligation to the public to keep our music department intact,” he said.

Worth also said the district has an “ethical responsibility” to stay in line with what voters approved in the budget.

Music coordinator and elementary music teacher Cathy Mullarney said it will be nearly impossible to subtract a teacher, especially this late into the summer, because of the scope of the instructors' purview. The two teachers oversee three bands comprised of about 110 to 120 students, she said. Cutting one teacher would also unravel the already-completed schedule for next year.

“I honestly, Joe, don't think you can do it with any quality,” she said.

While the board ultimately approved both appointments unanimously, Jim Wilcox said the conversation puts the board on notice that frugality will be necessary in the future.

Board member Ted Rejman took note of that, and said the board will have to study all aspects of the district to see if and where there is to save.

Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net