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| The ICSD Board of Education
Misconceptions |
When I first watched this Board [ICSD Board of
Education] in 2000 trying to cope with a budget, it was apparent then,
and it is still apparent now, that the Board can't focus on the big
ticket items and spends its time on the margins. Why not concentrate on
and start with the "big money" items?
What the Board has done to date in "cutting" the rate of increase in the
budget is typical, minor, and unfocused. Cutting library clerk hours and
a mechanic is not where spending should be reduced and offers very
little return. The "big money" is in administrators and these can be cut
with no real damage to the education of kids. You can also cut staffing
levels, since you can't cut contractual obligations. So, why can't and
won't this Board focus on where the big ticket dollars are?
Start with the new Asst. Superintendent. The job isn't needed. It
follows the precursor Asst. to the Supt. position, which was established
as temporary a few years ago to deal with redistricting, (listen to the
tapes, Judy told us the position was only temporary) made permanent, and
now would be elevated in level, is unnecessary. Savings, with support
personnel, my estimate about 150K, this item alone. No new
administrative position, including data analyst, should be created at
all. And, among existing positions, the public relations administrator
job should be cut, probably another 100-150K with support and benefits.
The District doesn't need, and functioned for years, without someone to
toot its own horn. In most districts, this function is the
Superintendent's. Upgrading an Asst. Principal to an Associate Principal
is nice, but unnecessary. Cutting surplus administrators has only a
marginal impact on education. So, start with no new administrators and
cut back on the excess existing ones.
While I support program spending for athletics in full, there is no need
for a full time Athletic Director. The position is mandated, but could
be half time and shared with another district, while the
non-professional work of the AD could be delegated to lower paid
personnel, freeing funds for tax reduction or for more athletic programs
and equipment for kids.
In service training should be pared down. Some of it is valuable and
directly related to teaching. But, there are many "feel good" offerings
and politically correct programs that could easily be cut. Ask the
Ithaca Teachers Association which ones they consider professionally
valuable and take their advice. Offer in-service, sure, but good
programs directly tied to education, not "feel good." Cut out of state
travel. There is no need for multiple people to go to out of state
functions.
The budget contains reserve positions, that may or may not be needed.
The reserve is a big slush fund when it has too many spots. Cut it
back. If a need arises, shift money and priorities from other lines.
The District has more paras than many other NYS districts and far more
than most other states. Keep the teachers our core professionals (except
for a small drop off by voluntary attrition), but cut the para work
force. A reduction of just five could yield 100K with benefits.
In short, it would be easy to find at least one million dollars in this
budget that could be reduced --- without hurting kids. Art Berkey and I
identified over a million dollars that could be cut with minimal
educational impact a few years ago when we were Board members with a
smaller budget. If the will was there, it could be done and fairly
painlessly.
The shame is that this Board is spending its time on relative trivia and
harmful and low return cuts such as devastating library clerks. The
result will be a new budget proposal that differs from the first one
only in name with a minimal reduction. That's an insult to the voters
--- and I hope they and the Journal won't be fooled by it. They sent a
message to incumbent Board members, one that should be marked by those
whose terms come up next year.
You can do this --- if you have the courage and fortitude to do it.
Henry S. Kramer
(BOE Member 2001-2004, speaking as an individual, opinions are not
necessarily those of the TC GOP)
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| Rx for Budgets |
| Budgets for State, municipalities, and school districts, which lack
the deficit spending capabilities of the U.S. government, must balance
realistic revenues and outgo, like home budgets. When individuals are
out of money they have to cut consumption, but governments seem to
assume they can’t be out of money while citizens still have assets. We
have all watched the State, County, ICSD, and other school boards
attempt to cope with budget processes and time after time just take from
us ever more taxes. Why and what can be done? . . . |
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