President David Brashear opened the session by describing past efforts to bend the cost curve of the school budget, bringing costs more in line with the rate of inflation. Endorsing the mandated tax cap, he said, "The Board strongly believes these budget measures are very helpful to long-term sustainability." The dollar increase in the school budget, $1,214,231, is almost entirely attributable to required employer contributions to the state teacher retirement system. Assistant Superintendent Dan Carlin presented the 2013-14 budget, which was adjusted downward to reflect reductions in contracted services recommended by the finance committee.His presentation can be found here. Based on current information, he estimated that the tax rate would increase by 1.58%, reflecting growth in the total valuation of village property. On a property assessed at $1 million, this would represent an estimated increase of $226. The proposed budget includes an allocation of $950,000 in reserves, but that number has not been finalized by the Board.
After hearing a summary of impact statements regarding possible reductions, Board members expressed strong support for guidance services, elementary music, and high school electives. A proposal to streamline modified basketball was quickly embraced, but there were mixed comments on the wisdom of touching clerical support in the athletics department. Private school transportation, a subject tackled in a fall workshop, was also raised again. The Board asked Superintendent David Quattrone to provide more information about positions vacated by retirement, the Middle School advisor program, and World Language courses with low enrollment. Quattrone mentioned that a clerical retirement incentive was also under consideration.
Thirteen members of the audience offered public commentary, including four high school seniors supporting the current level of guidance services. Other speakers mentioned private school transportation, class size, use of reserves, and Middle School programs. PTA President Helen Knapp suggested that the future will require some kind of paradigm shift in the delivery of services and that the PTA could play a key role in such a transition.
