Closure of Millerton Elementary revisited

WEBUTUCK — Just an hour before the Feb. 1 Board of Education (BOE) meeting, the Audit/Finance Committee convened to begin work on the 2010-11 district budget process. As a result of that meeting and because of the possibility of significant cuts to state aid, the district is now considering a variety of options, some of which would make drastic impacts on the schools.

BOE Trustee Joe Matteo stressed that the process was still in the beginning stage. He reported that the committee had discussed the possibility of adding a modular structure to the end of the high school building where the district offices are, although he said nothing was set in stone. The offices would then be moved to open up more class space, allowing for the closure of Millerton Elementary School (an idea considered and ultimately rejected during last year’s budget process), which would put the entire district on a one-bell system with a single transportation run for all grades.

These ideas, as well as others including reducing course offerings or scheduling courses for alternating years, could become a reality in order to offset Governor David Paterson’s proposed cuts of more than $750,000 in state aid to the Webutuck Central School District.

“In order to make programs for next year, we’re going to have to make cuts in other areas,� Matteo acknowledged.

Board of Education President Dale Culver said that none of the options reported were confirmed, but all would be investigated by the district during the process.

“Hopefully we’ll maintain as much program as possible without an exorbitant tax increase,� he said.

After the meeting, Culver explained that the upcoming school year was sure to be a difficult one if the state aid cuts went through, but that the district would also be preparing for similar cuts in the years to follow.

“Let’s perambulate forward a year,� he said. “What if it’s close to the same thing all over again? We have a financial obligation to the community to use foresight and assume that state aid reduction is not a one-time event.�

Culver added that the BOE would be engaging in difficult work during the budget process,  including looking at the district’s contractual obligations with the CSEA (Civil Service Employees Association) and the teachers’ union.

There was a subsequent Board of Education meeting held last Monday, Feb. 8, after this paper’s deadline. Audit/Finance Committee meetings, which are open to the public, will be held on a regular basis before the board meetings at 6:30 p.m. in the superintendent’s office. Culver said he hopes as many of those meetings would be held as possible during the lead-up to the April 1 budget deadline.