AUBURN - Judy Bryant came to the Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education community forum on the budget Monday armed with a question about Centro buses and school transportation.
“I'm wondering why we have a public transportation system that hits all the schools in the city, why are we continuing to use buses?” the Auburn woman asked board members and district administration. “It's from two perspectives. One is dollars and the other is the health of our kids. We didn't have obesity when kids walked to school.
“It doesn't make sense that we continued to bus to the degree we have been all these years,” she added.
Amid a financial crisis when district leadership endeavors to maximize resources, board member Ginny Kent praised the suggestion and Superintendent J.D. Pabis said he would look into that possibility.
“It's a really creative idea,” Kent said. “I never thought of public transportation.”
It was for these kinds of suggestions and feedback on the 2009-10 budget the board convened the community forum Monday at Seward Elementary School.
“We want to hear this type of feedback,” board member and forum moderator Michael Stearns said. “I think it's healthy conversation.”
The board is mulling over a decision to eliminate two administration positions, nine teaching positions, two support staff positions and a school resource officer to offset the approximately $1.8 million in state aid Gov. David Paterson is proposing to take back during the 2009-10 academic year to deal with a shortfall in the millions.
This information may change as district leaders learn more about the federal stimulus plan and how its money can be used. Pabis said additional funding may come to the district in three ways: two federal grants - Title 1, which deals with remediation, and IDEA, designed for special education and a discretionary fund to keep schools in good financial condition and save jobs.
“We know we will get money,” Pabis said. “We don't know the amount.”
Both he and board member David Lansford last week met with state Sen. David Valesky, D-Oneida, to discuss the discretionary funds. According to Pabis, Valesky is uncertain how that money will return to the district, and if it will equal the amount of state aid lost.
“There are still a lot of unanswered questions,” he said, “and after speaking with Valesky, we will move forward with the executive budget with the deficit reduction because there are still many unknowns.”
Harry Flanigan, of Owasco, commented that eliminating teachers and staff based upon declining enrollment is a good idea.
“I hope you are going to hold to that regardless of money because this is a good time to start cutting back and increase class size,” the Owasco man said. “I don't see any reason why teachers can't handle a few more students.”
Stearns responded by saying, “I agree with you. We need to take a close look at what we have in terms of enrollment and how to use our staff efficiently.”
Pabis said that many of the positions will likely be eliminated through attrition, but if the district wants discretionary funds, there has to be documentation that it did maintain positions.
“We either keep them so we have more retirements,” he said, “or we let them go, and not take any stimulus money, and that affects the budget both sides.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
“It doesn't make sense that we continued to bus to the degree we have been all these years,” she added.
Amid a financial crisis when district leadership endeavors to maximize resources, board member Ginny Kent praised the suggestion and Superintendent J.D. Pabis said he would look into that possibility.
“It's a really creative idea,” Kent said. “I never thought of public transportation.”
It was for these kinds of suggestions and feedback on the 2009-10 budget the board convened the community forum Monday at Seward Elementary School.
“We want to hear this type of feedback,” board member and forum moderator Michael Stearns said. “I think it's healthy conversation.”
The board is mulling over a decision to eliminate two administration positions, nine teaching positions, two support staff positions and a school resource officer to offset the approximately $1.8 million in state aid Gov. David Paterson is proposing to take back during the 2009-10 academic year to deal with a shortfall in the millions.
This information may change as district leaders learn more about the federal stimulus plan and how its money can be used. Pabis said additional funding may come to the district in three ways: two federal grants - Title 1, which deals with remediation, and IDEA, designed for special education and a discretionary fund to keep schools in good financial condition and save jobs.
“We know we will get money,” Pabis said. “We don't know the amount.”
Both he and board member David Lansford last week met with state Sen. David Valesky, D-Oneida, to discuss the discretionary funds. According to Pabis, Valesky is uncertain how that money will return to the district, and if it will equal the amount of state aid lost.
“There are still a lot of unanswered questions,” he said, “and after speaking with Valesky, we will move forward with the executive budget with the deficit reduction because there are still many unknowns.”
Harry Flanigan, of Owasco, commented that eliminating teachers and staff based upon declining enrollment is a good idea.
“I hope you are going to hold to that regardless of money because this is a good time to start cutting back and increase class size,” the Owasco man said. “I don't see any reason why teachers can't handle a few more students.”
Stearns responded by saying, “I agree with you. We need to take a close look at what we have in terms of enrollment and how to use our staff efficiently.”
Pabis said that many of the positions will likely be eliminated through attrition, but if the district wants discretionary funds, there has to be documentation that it did maintain positions.
“We either keep them so we have more retirements,” he said, “or we let them go, and not take any stimulus money, and that affects the budget both sides.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
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northender wrote on Mar 17, 2009 1:23 PM:
Ddg610 wrote on Mar 17, 2009 1:00 PM:
Those 2 positions are located at casey park school.Go walk around the offices at Thornton ave , they are falling all over each other . "
FREBUS49 wrote on Mar 17, 2009 12:59 PM:
Chemistry class had 60.
SAT scores were higher than today.
Most of the class received their Regents Diploma.
Teachers were payed a lot less and worked mostly for their benefit package.
So teacher, tell us again how tough a job you have.
Go to private industry, work more days for less $$$ and no guaranteed benefits. "
auburn1 wrote on Mar 17, 2009 12:44 PM:
teacher1 wrote on Mar 17, 2009 12:30 PM:
Ddg610 wrote on Mar 17, 2009 8:32 AM:
shootingfireflies wrote on Mar 17, 2009 5:52 AM: