SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS FAX (914) 241-6004May 19,2000

Dear Parents of Bedford Central School District Students:

Following the defeat of the district's school budget on May 16"', the Board of Education will be meeting several times over the next two weeks to determine the specific nature of a revised budget to be presented at a second vote prior to the close of school in June, In shaping this revised spending plan, the Board wants to hear the views of parents and other members of the community. Specifically, what type of further reductions ought to be considered to ensure its passage, so that we may avoid the even more draconian limitations that new State law places on districts whose budgets are defeated twice?

The Board has set the following dates for these meetings, all of which will begin in the Middle School Little Theatre at 8:30 p.m. in an attempt to encourage widespread community participation and also limit the number of calendar conflicts with concerts and other school activities that are inevitable at this busy time of the year

Wednesday, May 24 Wednesday, May 31 Thursday, June 1.

Further reductions in the budget will, I believe, need to be made, and it is inevitable that those reductions must be achieved in the form of cuts in personnel, since that aspect of the budget contains over 75% of the district's operating costs. To assist the Board in revising its budget proposal, I intend to specifically recommend a number of possible areas for such reduction, including those affecting:

• building and district level administrative positions  the district technology program

• elementary class size

• the elective program at Fox Lane High School

• delayed implementation of the middle school reorganization

• the number and extent of middle and high school extracurricular offerings, including interscholastic athletics

elementary enrichment/gifted and talented

special education

pupil transportation, especially focusing on late and activity buses for both public and non-public schools

subsidized use of the schools by parent and community organizations fine and performing arts, including deferral of string instrument instruction and budgeting for arts in education

public communication, including costs associated with production of the newsletter and the cable broadcast of Board of Education meetings

          • summer remediation and the Sumner Academy

• various capital or construction projects that may be eliminated or further deferred

If this process is to be successful, we will need the maximum amount of

community participation possible, so please make every attempt to attend as many of these scheduled meetings as your time allows. In addition, you may e-mail your thoughts to the district's budget website, or call or write to the members of the Board of Education or me.

The nature of the educational program available to your children next year will be shaped substantially by the ultimate outcome of this dialogue and the subsequent community vote. Please join us in this critical decision making process.

Sincerely,

Bruce Dennis Superintendent of Schools

 

 

Please note- Because so many people have inquired about the restrictions placed on a school district budget if it is defeated a second time, the following summary is offered:

Under a contingency budget:

• Spending for our district would be capped at 2.64% more than this current year's budget, except for those costs directly tied to enrollment increases.

• Administrative expenses will have to be reduced to meet a formulaic cap, based on the nature of other cuts determined by the Board.

• No new equipment may be purchased or ]eased, This would include computers and other technology, athletic equipment, buses, furniture, and musical instruments.

• No costs could be incurred by the district for use of its buildings or grounds by parent organizations or other outside groups.

• No capital projects or improvements, other than emergency repairs and standard operational maintenance, could be undertaken.

• Funds for pupil supplies, including notebooks, writing pads and paper, pens, pencils, crayons, etc. would be eliminated.