By Joe English

GALWAY–As fundraising to preserve sports and programs continues, the Board of Education is starting to look ahead to next year’s budget.  Last spring, our tax levy went up 4.6%.  This year, Governor Cuomo and the state legislature passed a law limiti­­­­­­ng property tax increases to roughly 2%, known as the infamous “property tax cap.”  Simple math suggests that our budget challenges will be far worse than last year’s, forcing us to rethink more programs and institute harsher cuts.

Why did the Governor institute a tax cap that would pressure schools?  While part of the decision stemmed from a desire to keep taxes low,  the bigger reason involves school district consolidation.  Governor Cuomo has stated that many of New York’s school districts with fewer than 2,000 students should merge.  His tax cap puts a financial strain on smaller districts, forcing them to seriously consider this option.  In theory, merging would spread out the tax burden among a larger group, making schools more financially secure in the long run.

But before a school’s financial strain forces it to merge, tough cuts must be made.  With a million dollar shortfall in revenue this year for our district, extreme cost-saving measures must be considered.  Sharing programs with other districts, outsourcing services like busing, maintenance, and food production, and increasing use of distance learning may be required.  In addition, three of the union contracts are up for renegotiation this year, providing the school a perfect opportunity to reduce salary and benefits cost growth.  Eliminating programs and laying off teachers, like last year, may be another—albeit less desirable—option.

Drastically reducing our cost structure will radically affect our educational experience.  Last year, Junior Varsity athletics were eliminated much to the community’s chagrin (although Booster Club fundraising was able to restore them).  This year’s budget may force us to cut the athletics program altogether.  Extra-curricular activities like the newspaper, science clubs, leadership activities, and enrichment opportunities may see consolidation or elimination.  Similarly, elective, or “supplementary,” programs like business, music, arts, and technology could be on the chopping block.  While some of these areas may simply suffer staff reductions like last year, the significant budget shortfall may force us to cut programs in their entirety.  All of these cuts, big or small, will change the educational experience that students receive during and after school.

The question we need to ask ourselves is: how much can we cut before the school’s ability to provide us with a quality education is compromised?  If our elective programs vanish, the athletic program gets dissolved, teachers are laid off, and extra-curriculars are eliminated, how well-rounded will our education be?  It is unrealistic to believe that providing a bare-bones, core set of classes can be a sufficient  educational experience to make us all career- and college-ready.  Make sure you and your parents get involved in this year’s budget process to ensure that our needs are understood and our voices are heard.  There’s a lot at stake this year, and we, as students, have a lot to lose.

See also: https://eaglesmediacenter.com/?p=4288