BOE is reaching out to parents for budget help

WAYNE – The board of education, aiming to be more proactive, recently held what will be the first of several informative meetings as they start to craft the 2011-2012 school year budget and trustees are reaching out to parents for suggestions to help set precedence.

A recap of the 2010-2011 budget was presented at the public meeting held at Wayne Hills High School and the board gave a hint as to how this year’s budget will be handled.

“This will be a collective process. And the board has made it clear to all the administration that this process will include principals, directors, and all department heads of the school board,” said Robert Ceberio, board president. “And it will be well documented for the public.”

The overview of this year’s budget was presented by district business administrator Juanita Petty.

Budget reductions for 2010-2011 totaled $10,777,013, and $1,136,959 or 10.5 percent was restored, including cafeteria playground aides, Spanish cycles at the middle school level, and some special education positions, Petty told the sparse audience.

This was made possible, she explained, due to savings in health and dental benefits amounting to $762,357, a reduction in unemployment costs due to staff not being let go equalling $470,000, and an increase of a federal type allow of $258,201.

The district received $58.4 million, or 47.4 percent, of the $123 million tax levy for 2010-2011. About 74 percent of the district’s athletic fees imposed, or $121,500, and 36 percent of the extra-curricular fees, or $53,850, have been collected so far. Petty said that some of the numbers are slightly off because actual the enrollment in certain programs are lower than first expected.

Making up for the loss, Petty said the district will not be spending the total amount budgeted and a budget freeze was also instituted in January, keeping unnecessary spending at a basic minimum.

“As an example, if the science department needed another digital camera because the one they had was not working than we had probably get them one but if they just wanted an additional one than probably not,” Petty said.

The budget cap forces the district to find ways to offer quality education to its students by only spending a fixed amount. This leaves officials with a “daunting task” said Petty.

“It’s difficult to operate when you are only granted to grow your budget by a certain extent,” Petty stated. “Trying to get the budget brought in by only growing it by $2.5 million will be overwhelming.”

The collective bargaining units that still have not settled yet include custodial, bus drivers, and paraprofessionals. Contracts set to expire on June 30 are central office maintenance, supervisors of curriculum and instruction, transportation, and the Wayne Education Association.

Looking ahead the board anticipates to establish budget goals, identify programmatic and function areas, evaluate the results of those areas studied, and analyze new initiatives.

“The parameters are what they are. We still have to do what we have to do,” Ceberio said.

Giving suggestions, some parents focused on what occurred during last year’s budget creation.

“Middle school is a crucial time in a child’s development as far as counselling is concerned,” said Joyce Duncan. “And with the governor’s new initiative on bullying how would that work if we lose a guidance counselor. Our counselors are there for more than just setting up class schedules.”

The board plans on having more public meetings of this nature regarding the budget. A schedule of future meetings could be determined at the next board meeting on Jan. 20.

Ceberio encouraged parents to attend future sessions. “We’ll be hoping for more of a turnout. We want you to come out and share your ideas and viewpoints,” he stated.