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Education
In light of Governor David Patterson announcing his 2010 budget, Superintendent Myszka asked Alan Getter, Assistant Superintendent of Business and Support Services, the basis as to where the school stands in receiving state aid. “The Buffalo News projects a $2.1 million decrease in state aid, but it’s a lot worse than that.”
Getter declared that they are still reviewing the formulas that went into governor’s proposal. “What the debt reduction is the amount of money the governor says has to be covered by the schools. They are hitting all the schools for how much they are short. Lancaster is being hit by six (6) million dollars in that account. All schools have this gap hit. We are getting two million dollars in stimulus money from last year. So the debt to the school right now is a four (4) million dollar debt shortfall. That is for this year and next year when there will be no stimulus money, we will be short another two million dollars, or a six million shortfall in 2011.”
Superintendent Myszka added that until the governor and the legislators pass the budget by April 1st or later, final state aid numbers will be uncertain. “We will work through the budget at work sessions, making assumptions and approaching the community on supporting educational programs that better their children’s lives. There will be no tax decrease this year, that’s for sure.”
Plea for Community Support at Budget Work Sessions
School Board member Wendy Buchert spoke on attending legislative meetings and others where concerns focused on State aid no longer being guaranteed and the revenue shortfall impact when federal stimulus money is going to end in 2011. “Public education for our kids is at risk,” declared Buchert. She added that it is imperative that the Board of Education (BOE) only concerns itself with this coming year’s budget, but prepare for long term budgets.
School Board president Marie MacKay cautioned that it was important that the district has the needed reserves and acts fiscally responsible because “the train is coming and it’s going off the tracks.” MacKay added: “We are not going to get the stimulus money, we are not going to have the state aid we had in the past and we need to adjust and everybody has to feel the pinch. I encourage the finance academy committee to attend our meetings and see how we manage and come together and make spending decisions. It’s going to be a rough year so support us whichever way you can.”
School Board member Ken Graber declared that the community has to understand that we have an obligation, both legally and morally to do the best for the children as we can, but not everything can be given that we would like to (provide). We have to be realistic. There is only so much of the pie that can only go so far. We cannot harm the district. That is the purpose of the work sessions and to put our hands on it. That is why I keep saying to the community to come down to the work sessions and find out what’s going on, to hear the numbers. Although residents at the work sessions don’t control the meeting, we have had meetings in the past on budget issues where people did come and give input, and we listened to them. Come and find out what it cost to run a school district and be part of the process. As mentioned earlier, even though we are down 200 students, we have fill days, buses, staff and programs to consider.”
School Board member Joseph Maciejewski agreed with Graber and suggested that the community becomes involved. “Tell us what you want us to pay for because you are going to vote on this budget. Tell us what you don’t want to pay for. This is the only budget in town that you get to vote on. We are asking the public to get involved.”
MacKay interjected that the budget work sessions were scheduled to begin this coming Monday, February 1, 2010. Monday’s meeting will be held at the Lancaster Central School District office on Central Avenue. She also encouraged the public to come out and participate in the budget process. Declaring that the school district has realized significant educational gains, MacKay spoke on the fact that Lancaster High graduates are now attending Ivy League schools, where in the past it may have been a one in a ten year event and that the school board will continue to work to maintain that position.
The budget work session schedule is posted on the Lancaster Central School District web site:
FEBRUARY 1, 2010 - - Budget Work Session – 6:30 P.M.
FEBRUARY 8, 2010 - - Budget Work Session after Regular Session
FEBRUARY 22, 2010 - - Budget Work Session – 6:30 P.M.
MARCH 8, 2010 - - Budget Work Session after Regular Session
Next: Part II: Resident Comments
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