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Community members share ideas and concerns at school district forum

January 2009

At the January 5 Monticello School District Community Forum, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Michel laid out the grim economic reality the district is facing. The more than 100 people who packed into the Robert J. Kaiser Middle School cafeteria came to share their opinions and ideas more than expecting to find answers.

“No decisions have been made yet,” explained Dr. Michel. “Tonight we will record your suggestions and one by one they will be considered as we build next year’s school budget.”

With Monticello Schools slated to lose almost $2 million in state aid, a preliminary calculation revealed that to absorb the loss of revenue and cover the escalating expenses of running the district, an estimated $3 million in cuts would have to be made. That would place the tax levy increase for the 2009-10 school year at about 4 percent. If the district does nothing, the projected tax levy increase could reach 14 percent or higher.

Dr. Michel explained how some of the fund balance the district has set aside would be used to achieve the lower tax levy increase. Yet, it would be essential to keep some fund balance to cover unanticipated expenses such as fiscal losses from reassessments.

Although the crowd remained calm, some of the suggested cuts made by community members caused other audience members to react strongly. These included the possibility of closing one of the district’s four elementary schools, asking teachers to forego next year’s salary increase and adjusting the school year to include the summer months. Though Monticello made changes to its transportation plan earlier this year, cutting out three bus runs and saving the district money, some attendees felt there should be more changes, including longer walking distances for students. One participant even suggested consolidating the elementary, middle and high school bus runs so students of all ages could be picked up at the same time and ride the same bus.

Chase Elementary School parent Mary Purdy who attended the meeting with her 5 year-old son Andrew was eager to share her ideas. “I feel it is better to condense programs rather than cut them out completely,” said Purdy. “My son is going into kindergarten next year and I want to ensure that he gets a quality education in this district.”

The ultimate decision to close a facility, cut programs or a combination of both will be discussed in further detail during the school budget formation process at the upcoming Citizens’ Advisory Budget Committee (CABC) meetings. All community members, parents, teachers and students who would like to be a part of the CABC are welcome.

The forum was also attended by an aide from Governor Paterson’s office who came to note the community’s views, ideas and frustrations which he’ll report back to the governor.

Click here to read the news article about the forum by Times Herald-Record reporter Adam Bosch.

Suggestions from the Monticello School District Community Forum to help the district get through the tough economic times ahead without placing the financial burden completely on the backs of local taxpayers:

1. Revisit and reanalyze the tax exempt status of the many properties in Sullivan County that are off the tax roles
2. Shorten the school week and lengthen the school day
3. Reverse school hours (change the high school day with the elementary school day)
4. Adjust the school year
5. Close schools during the winter months and have school during the summer
6. Reanalyze school vacations
7. Consolidate the elementary, middle and high school bus runs
8. Make more cuts to the district’s transportation plan and make students walk further distances to school
9. Change bus runs so that all the buses are utilized fully and every seat is filled
10. Reduce/eliminate busing to sports events that are far away
11. Allow talented athletes to compete in sporting events regardless of how far away they are and keep the less talented players local
12. Outsource transportation completely
13. Outsource cafeteria services
14. Don’t print or mail any district publications, make them all e-publications and web postings
15. Increase recycling
16. Begin composting program to bring in revenue
17. Get corporate sponsorships to fund programs
18. Allow PTAs and PTOs to fund some programs instead of cutting them
19. Close one of the elementary schools and shut down the building
20. Close one of the elementary schools and utilize the building for something else, either office space, preschool expansion or rental income
21. Redistrict the elementary schools to fill empty classrooms
22. Allow students in the upper grades to take online courses
23. Take back the St. John Street building from its renters and use it for students
24. Sell the St. John Street building
25. Create and participate in county-wide consolidation bids
26. Consolidate all the school districts in Sullivan County into one with shared services, classes and sports
27. Share services and classes with the Fallsburg School District
28. Ask teachers to forfeit their raises for one year
29. Increase class sizes and cut some teacher positions
30. Cut some administrator positions
31. Offer incentives to employees to entice high paid teachers and others to retire
32. Ask for mandate relief from the state so we can spend our money where we need it
33. Ask for money from a federal stimulus package

If you have any other ideas or comments you would like to share, please contact Dr. Michel at 845-794-7700, ext. 70910 or via e-mail at pmichel@k12mcsd.net.