At the April 27 board meeting, the board voted to NOT APPROVE three summer programs.
This saved the District $6000.
Money had been set aside from the current budget to pay for these programs so the state funding cuts would not have affected these programs.
The board justified the cuts by stating that they “had to start watching every penny”.
In an April 30 Observer-Reporter article, FC Business Manager, Sroka, was quoted as saying, "We have to figure out how to make do with less." The article also stated that the district would curtail travel and conference spending.
The week of May 2, 2011, three administrators – Dinnen, Craig, and Smith - attended a 4-day conference in Harrisburg --- but the district is “watching every penny”.
From the Observer-Reporter, April 30, 2011.
Shortfall forcing district decision
This article has been read 2397 times.
Fort Cherry School District administrators Wednesday gave the school board recommendations about how to cut $1.6 million to balance the 2011-12 budget.
Before any proposed additional cuts, the $16.9 million budget had a 0.39 percent reduction in expenses over the previous year. Of the revenue loss, $1.3 million is state and federal money, primarily because of Gov. Tom Corbett's proposal to reduce education funding to 2007-08 levels to help balance the state budget.
"We have to figure out how to make do with less," said business manager Paul Sroka, adding that it's safe to say the board will not be doing major building renovations.
Nobody wants to furlough employees, he said.
"We're going to have to make some tough staffing decisions," Sroka said.
The potential cuts at the junior/senior high school targeted for elimination or curtailment include the media program, driver's education, the mentoring program and the reduction of one teacher in health/physical education, reading, math and special education.
The potential cuts at the elementary level are instrumental music, reading recovery, one-half of a Title 1 teaching position and a reduction of two to five teaching positions, beyond not replacing one retiring teacher.
The impact of increased average class size ranges from a low of 19.5 and a high of 23.75 by not replacing two teachers to a low of 23.5 to a high of 28 by not replacing five teachers, according to district budget documents.
Administrative and support elimination includes one or two bus runs, police realignment, nursing consolidation, guidance consolidation, library consolidation, facilities consolidation, administrative consolidation, supply/printing/travel and conference curtailment and sport uniform purchase deferment.
The budget documents show that Fort Cherry is considering consolidating superintendent and administrative services with Avella Area School District or eliminating one administrative position.
Potential revenue increases include money from Range Resources, a $50 in-service board/administration/professional staff fee, an employee pledge, more state revenue and a property tax increase of 1.9 mills.
Sroka said revenue from Range Resources is unlikely because a well has not been drilled under school property yet. He also said the board is not strongly considering a tax increase because it would yield so little money and district residents can't afford it.
The recommendation also includes a voluntary one-time pledge by professional staff in the suggested range of $600 to $1,800 per person. Administrators have already pledged money under the recommendation, according to the budget documents.
Sroka said administrators have also said they are willing to give back pay increases for the upcoming year, and the recommendation also includes asking other employees to give back their increases.
Some parents and students spoke at the meeting, asking the board not to cut certain programs.
"The board appreciates their passion," Sroka said. "The board is not doing this lightly."
Specific details about the cuts are available on the district website at www.fortcherry.org.
Fort Cherry will have budget hearings at 6 p.m. May 9 and 11 at the elementary school library. A preliminary budget is scheduled for approval on May 16. A final budget must be approved by June 30.
