Greenport Restructures Programs to Reduce Spending

Before Greenport Superintendent Michael Comanda touched the 2011-2012 budget, he was already more than $1 million in the hole.

With Governor Andrew Cuomo’s proposed state aid cut of $196,669 and double-digit increases in contributions to both the teachers retirement system and the employee retirement system, a more than 9% increase in health insurance costs, and the loss of more than $165,000 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Comanda had to be creative to cover costs in his proposed budget for next school year.

Citing a February Newsday article where Governor Cuomo is quoted saying that 85% of Long Island school districts have enough in their reserve funds to cover the state aid cuts, Comanda said Greenport is part of 15%.

“Greenport is one of the schools that does not have the money to cover the cuts,” said Comanda.

Comanda encouraged members of the audience to visit the district’s website, download a letter to State Senator Ken LaValle, and let him know how district residents feel about the budget cuts.

At the beginning of the budget process, the district was looking at a 4.87% budget increase over this year. After some cuts, that figure is now down to a 1.77% increase and Comanda says they are still looking for additional savings.

The district has restructured the popular Reading First program. The program will be incorporated into classroom teaching and will actually add more reading time for every student into each day. The restructuring has resulted in a change in reading staff. One of the reading teachers will now teach a third section of second grade, another part-time reading teacher was excised. The district will hire an additional reading teacher assistant to help with instruction.

At least one district employee and resident was not happy about the changes to the reading program.

“That sign out front says we’re a Blue Ribbon School. I feel that you messed with something that was good for you by changing the reading program,” said Denise Edwards.

Board member Dan Creedon initially had reservations about changes to the reading program as well.

“Initially I shared Mrs. Edwards’ concerns. I was concerned that we eliminated the reading teacher, but in the process we have actually redirected two high school teachers to help with the elementary school.” Creedon said.

Two special education positions have been cut, but those teachers will not lose their jobs in the district because they have dual certifications. One teacher will replace a social studies teacher who is retiring and the other will teach a second section of fourth grade. The district did not replace two teachers who retired last year and reduced sections in two grades. The proposed 2011-2012 budget restores those positions.

Additional savings were found by freezing all three administrators’ salaries, cutting the field trip budget, and taking yearbook and journalism out of the schedule and making them afterschool programs. Comanda said the district also benefitted when BOCES employees agreed to hard salary freeze for the 2011-2012 school year.

Even with the cuts, Comanda is looking at creating a Repair Reserve Fund for building improvements that are not “immediate needs” and that were not included in the $8.7 million bond approved in December.  The fund would include monies to repair fencing, parking lots, playground equipment, and update the home economic and science rooms over the next three to five years.

The budget vote will be Wednesday, May 17 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.