Ogdensburg City School District facing $3.3 million gap as 2012-2013 budget development continues

OGDENSBURG — The City School District administrative council is looking at potential cuts in staff and programming as it attempts to fill a $3.3 million gap in the estimated $34 million 2012-2013 school budget.

“How do you make that up? There are two options,” Assistant Superintendent David J. Valois said Tuesday. “We can appropriate fund balance, which I would describe as you or I taking money out of the bank that we have in our savings account. Or we can make cuts in expenditures.”

Assuming a $368,515 increase in state aid and a tax rate increase of 2 percent generating an additional $175,239, the total difference between projected revenue and expenses for the city school district next year is $3,260,625.

“That is essentially what we’re expecting,” Mr. Valois said.

The district anticipates using $1.8 million in appropriated fund balance, leaving a gap of $1,460,625 before any cuts or reductions.

At the Feb. 6 meeting, Mr. Vernsey highlighted several possible cuts being considered by the district, as well as an unexpected favorable change in the teacher retirement system resulting in $85,000 available to help balance the budget.

“That was a recent change in the state calculation,” Mr. Valois said.

Among possible cuts are the retirements of business teacher Pamela Morley, fifth-grade teacher Michael Sargent, secondary special education teacher Shelly Davis, three nurses throughout the district and a secondary teacher’s assistant, saving the district a total of $122,000. Mrs. Morley’s position is expected to be cut.

In the buidings and grounds department, an additional $20,000 is expected in savings with the replacement of two laborers, one due to retirement. Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds James Bouchey will also retire in April. Mr. Valois said the district is looking at options to combine Mr. Bouchey’s position with that of an existing employee.

Patrolman Robert Grady’s school resource officer position is also back on the block, Mr. Valois said — a cut that would mean $40,000 in savings to the district in 2012-2013.

“That position is contracted with the city police department through 2012. It amounts to a half-year’s worth of savings, in other words,” he said.

Also back on the chopping block is the district’s gifted and talented program and its $19,500 price tag.

An additonal $73,200 could be trimmed by eliminating department heads, athletic supervisors, assistant coaches, and a half-time universal pre-kindergarten teacher and teacher’s assistant, Mr. Vernsey said, bringing the cumulative total of all cuts to $366,000.

“And that is kind of where the story ends,” Mr. Valois said Tuesday, pointing to a remaining shortfall of just under $1.1 million. “It seems like May is a long way away, but it will be here before long. The budget team is looking at all possible areas.”

Budget discussions will continue at the next Ogdensburg City School District Board of Education meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 27 in the Ogdensburg Free Academy cafeteria.