Published: March 26, 2008 10:28 am         

Sidney school board approves $23M budget

By Mark Boshnack
Staff Writer

A $23 million budget that calls for cuts of nearly 20 staff positions was approved by the Sidney Central School Board of Education during its regular meeting on Tuesday.

The budget will go before voters on May 20.

The changes would call for a 2.45 percent budget increase and an estimated tax-levy increase of 4.74 percent. Without the cuts, taxpayers could have seen a tax hike of more than 16 percent, said Superintendent Sandra Cooper.

The unanimous decision came after the seven-member board heard requests from a number of parents and students in the more-than 70-member audience to reconsider a cut in the middle school music program. The half-time position was one of a number of cuts needed to get expenses in line with revenue, Cooper said. While enrollment had decreased 372 since 1997, staff had increased 20 positions, to 180, during that time period.

Several members of the board said that making the cuts was a hard decision during trying economic times.

Other positions cuts included: middle school/high school, business and keyboard; high school technology; a half position in high school Spanish; in middle school, two academic intervention services teachers _ math and ELA; also in middle school, half positions in health and home and careers; one in special education; and nine aides _ two high school, four middle school and three elementary school. Administration cuts are business administrator and assistant high school principal.

Other staff cuts include two permanent substitute teachers, district office account clerk, a clerical position and a half position in transportation custodial worker. Extracurricular position cuts include modified swimming, cheerleading and assistant track coach.

All staffing cuts will be made based on seniority, Cooper said, and a couple of positions will be added back in lessexpensive positions so there will be no loss in services.

In addition, staffing will be adjusted so there is no loss in programs, Cooper said. She said she adjusted the cuts from earlier proposals to reflect concerns brought up in presentations.

Sidney Teacher Association Co- President Chris Barnes said she had hoped the board would delay its vote to consider some of the comments about the music program.

She said that Cooper definitely listened to staff concerns in adding back several positions.