Board of Education pushes pause on budget completion

by Marilyn J. Kasperek

Akron Central School Board of Education members are pausing before finalizing a budget plan to come before voters later this spring.  Expectations of Pandemic adjustments during the year, state aid figures calculated on local data coming in lower than projected by the state, the Governor’s postponement of budget vote until at least June 1, and other factors, have the Board waiting to finalize the spending plan they will bring to voters.

“We have the benefit of time,” School Business Administrator Cynthia Tretter told the Board at their April 1 meeting.  “We can take a breath,” she said in encouraging the Board to look at all of the factors impacting the proposed spending plan.

As the district gathers more information and makes important fiscal decisions over the next few months, some of the items currently included may need to be removed from the budget and an adjustment made in the tax levy, while keeping it under the 3.21 increase allowed under the state tax levy cap.

As currently proposed, projected revenues in 2020-2021 are about 1.5 million dollars below revenues projected for the current 2019-2020 revenue budget and proposed 20-21 expenditures are down $1,334,129.00 from 19-20. 

Small reductions are reflected throughout the expenditure lines in anticipation of a tight budget year, with significant reductions reflected in salary lines due to retirements and personnel changes, equipment lines due to items already purchased in the current budget year and some equipment needs being met in other ways or delayed.  Notable reductions are also indicated in service contract lines, as some of that work is brought in-house capitalizing on current personnel skill sets and experience.  A kindergarten class was cut through a retirement.  The incoming class has 60 students and class sizes will remain around 15.  Also cut through a retirement is Home and Careers which has had low enrollment.

Superintendent of Schools Patrick McCann reported at the April 1 meeting that he is working closely with everyone helping to continue to provide educational programs as well as meals to the District’s students.  He thanked Doug Dailey and the tech team, everyone in the school organization, as well as students and families for meaningfully engaging and keeping up with the educational programs.

“Every 12 hours something new happens,” McCabe told the Board.  He reported the food service staff is providing 9,750 meals a week and that Feed More WNY will have a mobile food distribution on Mondays and Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m. at the school.

With the 180-day waiver in effect, the district could not lawfully recess for religious holidays so meals and instruction continued through the spring break.  Building Administrators and Teachers continue to work to prepare educational material and concerns of equity of education, where there is no internet, is a challenge they are addressing.

Teletherapy is being offered to students who need it and counselors are providing mental health resources where needed.  Methods for teacher engagement and other educational plan elements are continually evolving according to McCabe’s report.

“We are following the Governor’s direction, when he says go back, we will go back.”

Capital project

The District is seeking information as to whether the capital improvement project meets the criteria as essential construction.  Several factors, including risk to public health go into that designation.

Action Items

Board members abolished one full-time equivalent position in the tenure area of Special Education effective June 30, 2020 and determined that Katelyn Gibson is the least senior person in the tenure area of Special Education and that her services will be terminated effective June 30, 2020.  Ms. Gibson will be placed on a preferred eligible list.

The Tenure area of Home and Careers was abolished effective June 30, 2020.

A leave of absence request for Jennifer Frens from her part-time monitor position and a leave of absence request of Emily Kenline from her full-time monitor position were approved through June 30, 2020.

A full-time Teacher Aide position was abolished effective June 30, 2020, Tracy Whitlocke was determined to be the least senior Teacher Aide and will be laid off effective June 30, 2020 and her name placed on a preferred list for recall.

A School District policy on the Privacy and Security for student data and teacher and principal data was approved and a previous policy on student data breaches abolished as it is now covered with the new policy.

The Board of Education meets again on Tuesday, April 21 at 7:00 p.m.