A review of cost increases for a short-list of legislated NY State mandates and the reduction in Aid over the past two years clearly indicates the unmanageable financial scenario that is driving Elwood’s school property taxes higher.
It is hard to see through all of the political dust that the demagogues in Albany are kicking up in the media with their talk of overpriced administrative bureaucracy, bloated reserves and failing schools. Obviously, Andrew (“No One Should Make More Than Me”) Cuomo has never been to Elwood. So allow me to say it again to stress the point: THE RISING COST MANDATES AND THE LOSS OF AID REVENUE ARE THE DRIVING FORCE OF OUR PROPERTY TAX INCREASES. The spread between the increase in mandates and the loss of aid revenue is above $4 million over the 2010/11 and 2011/12school years. This impacts our tax levy by 12%, which is exactly our combined tax levy increase for this year and the 2011/12 proposal.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
There is an overwhelming public sentiment that teachers’ contractual pay raises are driving up taxes. However, while automatic step raises combined with contractual pay hikes are a contributing factor that creates a tremendous financial strain on any school district, we have been able to offset this contractual obligation with staff cuts.
There is an overwhelming public sentiment that teachers’ contractual pay raises are driving up taxes. However, while automatic step raises combined with contractual pay hikes are a contributing factor that creates a tremendous financial strain on any school district, we have been able to offset this contractual obligation with staff cuts.
You should know that these cuts are something we do with great difficulty. For one, teachers that provide quality instruction are the vital asset to any school and it is important that we continue to assure that the people inside of the classroom are highly skilled pedagogically, dedicated to our mission, and masters of the content they deliver to our students. Secondly, for a majority of the community a “staff cut” is a line item on a spreadsheet. However, to the members of the Board of Education a “staff cut” has a name and a face. These are people who are doing a great job with our children; they are people who we care about; who are getting married, and supporting their own families. In a small community like Elwood, a staff cut is a heart wrenching decision – one that hurts more than anyone will ever know.
You should also know, that we (the BOE) are continuing to have conversations with the various union officials that can bring about meaningful reforms and changes in our contractual obligations – and when dialogue occurs there is hope of a brighter and more manageable future.
THE CENTRAL OFFICE TEAM
The central office team of administrators that was assembled in 2009/10 is lean, and the most experienced and effective team of educators that the district ever had in the central office. Moreover, next year their collective cost of compensation and benefits to the district taxpayer will be $100,000 less than the central office team we had in the 2008/09 school year.
The central office team of administrators that was assembled in 2009/10 is lean, and the most experienced and effective team of educators that the district ever had in the central office. Moreover, next year their collective cost of compensation and benefits to the district taxpayer will be $100,000 less than the central office team we had in the 2008/09 school year.
A DIFFICULT DECISION FOR TAXPAYERS
The Board has always been mindful to those who cannot afford much more in school taxes and are unsure how much more we can ask these people to tighten their belts so our schools can stay true to our mission. While there are signs of economic improvement, financial burdens still seem overwhelming to many. Of greatest concern is the potential of taxing senior citizens out of our community. Other than not providing a child with a competitive education, this is the next worst fear of our Board of Education. The current Board wants to explore re-energizing the bill introduced to the legislature by Senator LaValle a few years ago that would freeze school taxes for homeowners starting at 70-years of age.
The Board has always been mindful to those who cannot afford much more in school taxes and are unsure how much more we can ask these people to tighten their belts so our schools can stay true to our mission. While there are signs of economic improvement, financial burdens still seem overwhelming to many. Of greatest concern is the potential of taxing senior citizens out of our community. Other than not providing a child with a competitive education, this is the next worst fear of our Board of Education. The current Board wants to explore re-energizing the bill introduced to the legislature by Senator LaValle a few years ago that would freeze school taxes for homeowners starting at 70-years of age.
We must remain diligent and find new ways to fund our schools, and reform the archaic systems and laws that will eventually lead to the implosion of public education if we do not take action on the local, state, and national level.
NEVERTHELESS, we are not going achieve our reform goals by May 17th… And, the only message that can be sent on the 17th is how much YOU (every individual and Family) are willing to fund education in Elwood during the 2011-12 school year.
A MARKETING NIGHTMARE
The Budget proposal that the Board of Education is bringing to the community (+7.98%) is, frankly, a marketing nightmare. Across Long Island we have become used to school districts being marketed in the media based on the size of their percentage of budget and tax levy increase from the previous year, and in that competition we are behind the 8-ball. At this time of year the masses rarely focus upon the educational services delivered, the success of Elwood students, diminishing state aid, or the amount of commercial property that helps hold down the tax rate, or the lack thereof… Or, how low their tax increases may have been relative to other school districts in the past.
The Budget proposal that the Board of Education is bringing to the community (+7.98%) is, frankly, a marketing nightmare. Across Long Island we have become used to school districts being marketed in the media based on the size of their percentage of budget and tax levy increase from the previous year, and in that competition we are behind the 8-ball. At this time of year the masses rarely focus upon the educational services delivered, the success of Elwood students, diminishing state aid, or the amount of commercial property that helps hold down the tax rate, or the lack thereof… Or, how low their tax increases may have been relative to other school districts in the past.
SO, WHY IS THE BOE PROPOSING THIS BUDGET TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN WE ARE LIVING IN THESE MOST INTERESTING TIMES?
The time clock continues to wind down for children as we prepare them for college and a 21st Century workforce. There is no holding back or slowing down for a rebuilding year, or getting back a year or years… Our goal is to get children ready for life beyond John Glenn High School and we must provide them with every opportunity to learn, to discover their creativity and competitiveness, to grow socially and emotionally, and in character. We must get children where they need to be on time. We simply cannot afford to take programmatic opportunities away from children when the clock is ticking and risk not having them well rounded and ready for a competitive post secondary education when the buzzer sounds.
The time clock continues to wind down for children as we prepare them for college and a 21st Century workforce. There is no holding back or slowing down for a rebuilding year, or getting back a year or years… Our goal is to get children ready for life beyond John Glenn High School and we must provide them with every opportunity to learn, to discover their creativity and competitiveness, to grow socially and emotionally, and in character. We must get children where they need to be on time. We simply cannot afford to take programmatic opportunities away from children when the clock is ticking and risk not having them well rounded and ready for a competitive post secondary education when the buzzer sounds.
In this proposed budget, we have stayed true to our mission and there is something to be said about a community that overcomes continuing hardships and skepticism, and keeps their focus on the mission of their schools:
“Our mission is to provide an excellent educational experience that empowers and inspires each student to succeed academically, socially and emotionally in an evolving global society. We invite the entire Elwood community to join us on this journey.”
This budget proposal is just that – an invitation for the entire Elwood Community to join us on this journey.
