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GREENBURGH, N.Y. – The future spending plan for Greenburgh schools is now in the hands of district voters.
Greenburgh Central School District 7’s Board of Education unanimously approved the proposed 2012-2013 budget Tuesday night, a $58.6 million plan that administrators said has been “cut to the bone.”
“A lot of work went into this budget with the goal of providing success to every student but at the same time demonstrating fiscal restraint,” said Assistant Superintendent Ed Joseph during the board's meeting inside Woodlands High School.
Since November, district administrators have gone line-by-line through the spending plan, reviewing each expense.
While the budget features a slight spending increase over this year’s ledger, it does not include any cuts, either to staff or after school programs.
Administrators said they were uncertain as to what the budget's effect on the property tax rate will be.
They did say, however, that the tax levy increase will be below the state's formula-determined tax cap, coming in at 2.54 percent.
If, however the adopted budget were to be rejected by voters in May, which was the case last year, the district would be forced to cut $1.2 million from the plan.
Interim Superintendent Ronald Ross warned Tuesday those cuts would hit staff particularly hard.
“There will be layoffs and we will lose personnel,” he said. “This is not meant to scare you. It’s the truth.”
Ross also used the meeting to lash out at the state’s tax cap, calling it a “death deal” for public education. Greenburgh Central 7 and many other districts around the state simply will not be able to survive if they continue to be limited by the two percent cap, he said.
“I believe that the core of diversity is public education and that this is as much an issue of national security as anything,” he said.
The public vote on the 2012-2013 budget plan is May 15 at Woodlands High School.
Comments (6)
Education for our kids = PRICELESS!!!
To: Housemusic3 >> if you have issues or questions about the budget please attend board meetings, they are open to the public. Or request a copy of the proposed budget, they can be sent to you. Do not make blanket statements about "Listening to these guys whine ..." Who is whining? We live in Westchester, national average doesn't apply! Cost of education goes up just like a gallon of gas or a gallon of milk.
We need to focus on increasing the quality of education for our kids. They are the future. For those who don't have kids in the schools, the curriculum nowadays for K-12 is very comprehensive, even more than 10 yrs ago! Our kids need our support more than ever, both in the home and in school.
There is no place for ignorance and apathy in the education of our children.
Vote to support our children.
Amy Huang
parent, community member, advocate & PTA president
Vote NO on these overblown school budgets. Listening to these guys whine about lack of money is like watching a 400 pound man walk through the slums of Ethiopia with a bag FULL of greasy cheeseburgers complaining that he's hungry. They have budgets 5 x the national average and success rates far below it. don't throw more money at something that's clearly already broken. I have kids too.
Let me make this point clear, I don't care if the school budget is 20x's the nation's average...if this is what's needed to educate my children and the children in my community. "don't throw money at something that's clearly already broken" What would you suggest?? Leave the system broken, don't provide funding and let all the children in GC7 that can't afford private or parochial school to suffer the consequences??
I don't thnk you've been to our Board of Education meetings. I haven't heard any "whining" from The Boardor Administrators at any of the meetings. You're pretty satirical with the greasy cheeseburger analogy, but I don't find the austerity budget comical. This is a serious issue for our community and it's future.
Amen, Greenburghmomof2! Pass the budget! Our children's future depends on it!
Greenburghmomof2, you got that right! GC7 cannot suffer another year of austerity. The ability to move this district forward in academic achievement is slowed and even set back when the constant concern and conversation is about lack of funding, loss of valuable teachers, and no money to upgrade technology, classrooms and even our buildings. We cannot sustain good education and move forward towards being a top notch district if the community's eye is only ever on voting down the budget.
Possibility of success and positive growth in academic achievement is attainable when the school board can truly spend most of its time looking at and implementing the right changes for academic growth and when the community has trust in what we are trying to do. It takes ALL of the district to have our schools be what they have the potential to be. It takes ALL of the district residents to ensure that each and every child is afforded the right to a great education. We have the capability. We have the desire. We need your vote, We need your voice, We need your commitment to our children. Please use your power and vote on May 15th, 1 vote can make the difference!
Claudia Glaser
GC7 Board Member, parent, community member, advocate
I'm a home owner, tax payer and parent! NO EXPENSE is too much for the education of our children!! We need everyone, blog readers, writers, parents and community members alike to 1) stop talking badly about our public school system, 2) vote YES for the budget and MOST IMPORTANTLY 3) come to our Board of Education meetings to hold our administrators and board members accountable for your tax dollars!
If the budget fails, our property values will continue to drop, as even the real estate companies tell prospective home buyers the school system is bad (they don't live here, dont know any of the children and have no vote). The children born and raised here will be the future legacy of this town...no amount of money is too much to educate children!!
Let's pass this vote, then move on to selecting the RIGHT superintendent! One who will be hell-bent on improving the poor testing results, poor PR/reputation and mediocre parental involvement our school district constantly faces! I know these kids that grew up in GC7 schools, they're bright, gifted and well-rounded!! Do NOT fail them!