School Board Notes
Budget Increase: 7% in Spending, 5.8% in Taxes

By Jim Byrne

With the removal of two recommended teaching positions, the Board of Education lowered the proposed 2007-08 budget from $64,239,795 to $63,999,338. What was originally a 7.35% budget-to-budget increase is now at 6.95%, which would equate to a 5.772% tax rate increase. At the request of the Board, Superintendent Dr. Edward Shine eliminated one full-time employee English/Theatre Arts position, and one full-time elementary music position.

Despite these reductions, Board member Bob Zahm did not see  cause for celebration. “We need to remind ourselves there are some other initiatives that we have not yet priced that we wanted to adopt throughout the year,” said Zahm at the March 13 Board of Education meeting. Zahm was referring to the yet-to-be-heard recommendations from the Math Committee, as well as the foreign language initiative, for which there was a separate work session on March 15.

Adding Spanish class for grades 1-5 was approved at the work session, as was support for a summer institute where Mandarin Chinese would be taught. The goal of these projects is to transform foreign language proficiency to fluency, while also giving Rye graduates an extra edge in the global economy. The initiatives will be added to the budget in time for the March 27 Board of Education meeting, although a good deal of funding could come from federal grants.

Some controversy erupted early at the March 13 School Board meeting when Rye residents Martin Gerson and Sis D'Angelo voiced displeasure over events that they claimed to have occurred at previous budget votes. Gerson accused Dr. Shine of politicking too close to the polls, while D'Angelo objected to reporters questioning voters as they exited the polling area. The Board and Dr. Shine denied any wrongdoing and released a document explaining their point of view. “We thank Mr. Gerson and Mrs. D'Angelo for sharing their concerns,” said Culyer.

Also at the March 13 Board meeting, Shirley K. Klein, Director of Special Education and Pupil Personnel Services, presented a response to the special education program assessment for the 2006-07 academic year. Her proposals for 2007-08 include: the continuation of a Cooperative Teaching Model (CTM) program for fifth grade at the Osborn School, a “pull out” program for fourth grade, the addition of a CTM program for second grade at Midland, the continuation of a CTM Regents biology class, adding two extra periods per week so cooperating teachers can better plan together, and the addition of another special education reading teacher at the High School.

Zahm wondered how they would assess the impact of these initiatives from an output perspective, and Klein explained that it's measured by state testing, progress reports and any assessments teachers have made in formal and informal fashion. Zahm then asked what they should expect in terms of outcome at the high school level, and in particular the graduation rate. “Improvement,” said Klein. In response, Zahm explained that he wants to know what the outcomes are because special education takes up a significant portion of the budget. As of press time, $1,908,308 of the budget is slated to go to special education in the District.

Discussion on the impending construction of the Milton gymnasium also occurred at the March 13 Board meeting. With $600,000 in funds left over from the $22 million bond, those monies could be allocated towards a new, $2 million gym at Milton. Also, as reported by Dr. Shine, the District Treasurer has stated that there will be $807,000 earned in interest by June 30 from the $22 million bond. Although this money must be used to combat District debt, general fund monies would be liberated, and could be used for capital projects such as the approved construction of a gym.

A majority of the Board members were supportive of going forward with the Milton plan, as long as they could get the funds together and make sure there was transparency in their actions for the public. The construction of the Milton gym was originally approved as part of the $22 million bond, but money became a problem and the plan was delayed. “A portion of the community feels that the gym is not a necessary thing,” said Zahm. “$1.4 million can be used for other facility costs. Some feel our priorities are not right. It's not that we have found money that can just be used for a gym; it can go to debt services and other stuff.” Board member George Cady then reminded Zahm that it was the community that approved the construction of the Milton gym. “The community voted for the gym in the $22 million bond,” he said. “We have a commitment to live up to. The cost went up, but we still have a pledge, and we need to follow through.”

Now, the Board just has to figure out a way to find the right monies and the right way to present it to the public. Other options included making the gym a line item on the budget vote and Culyer's suggestion of taking money from the certiorari fund, a thought that “scared” Gerson.