Please click on the link at the bottom of the page to view the PowerPoint slides.
February 8, 2010
Dear Highland Community Member:
Here are some slides from a recent 2010-2011 Budget Presentation that was made to the Board of Education on February 2nd. We tried to choose a few slides that would paint a clear picture for you about the funding challenges the District is facing. Please keep in mind that budget discussions are very preliminary and no final decisions about programs have been made at this time.
Over the last three years the Highland Central School District’s operating budgets have been at or below the corresponding contingent budget levels. All three of our buildings are spending less in supplies, materials, equipment and professional development than they were three years ago. Our class sizes range from the mid to high twenties and over the last five years staffing has been reduced in certain areas. For instance, the high school no longer has a School Resource Officer and there are only two school psychologists to service our 1,950 students.
Two of our largest units’ contracts are being negotiated and currently we are at impasse with both. The Board of Education is working hard to reach agreements that will reduce the District’s share of employee costs.
For this current school year the Federal stimulus funds, combined with ten retirements and reductions in other areas, allowed the Highland Central School District to maintain its basic program structure. However, based on the Governor’s proposed budget, we will not be able to do that for the 2010-2011 school year. As you can see, Highland does not have large amounts of Fund Balance or Reserve Funds to offset the projected $860,000 (5.5%) reduction in our state aid.
Although we have the lowest budget in Ulster County, we do not have the lowest tax rate, for a variety of reasons. Primarily, we are a residential community and our homeowners shoulder the majority of the property tax increase burden. Our students shoulder the brunt of loss of programs.
We understand the fiscal crisis that New York State is dealing with and we are doing whatever we can at the local level. However, our students did not create this crisis and they should not have to pay the educational price for it. Please keep in mind that not all school districts are positioned to absorb the proposed cuts to education aid, especially not the Highland Central School District.
At a recent Legislative breakfast meeting the Mid-Hudson School Study Council presented our New York State representatives with a “To Do List” that we would like to share with you:
1. Insist funding is fair, equitable and timely
2. Oppose the steady flow of under and unfunded mandates and cost shifts
3. Oppose sweetening employee benefits through legislation and repeal Triborough Amendment so that contracts extended beyond their expiration cost no more than their last year
4. Support local flexibility that will allow resources to be utilized in the most efficient manner resulting in maximum benefit to both students and taxpayers
Please contact our State representatives and share your feelings about these and other concerns that you have regarding the funding of New York State public education. They need to hear all of our voices on behalf of our children.
The New York State School Boards Association is leading a legislative initiative entitled “Be The Change For Kids. You can learn more about their legislative priorities by visiting their website www.nyssba.org.
Please feel free to call or email with any questions or comments, and please remember that the school district budget is a process that is underway and that no final decisions about programs have been made.
Thank you.
Deborah A. Haab
Superintendent of Schools
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