No Cobleskill-Richmondville school board members like the budget they adopted Monday night.
But the divided board followed Superintendent Matt Sickles’ lead and adopted the proposed $48.4 million 2025-26 budget in a 5-2 vote.
Two of Mr. Sickles’ recommendations–-cutting a full-time librarian and part-time art teacher–-drew criticism, especially from the public. (See related story in this week’s Times-Journal.)
Mr. Sickles closed the gap between spending and revenues by using fund balance, or savings, and cutting non-personnel items, he said after the meeting.
Fund balance continued to be an issue, and many in the public believe C-R has plenty in savings to fund the two cut positions.
But noting that he’s been called “a liar” and “evil” in emails and letters, Mr. Sickles gave a detailed, 12-year history of C-R’s fund balance. He finished by saying much of the fund balance is in restricted reserves and therefore can’t be applied to the budget.
“Thank you for what you did,” school board President Bruce Tryon said after Mr. Sickles’ explanation.
Mr. Tryon also thanked the public for input and then touched on issues that brought C-R to its budget crisis: Declining enrollment, rising costs and insufficient state aid, with many Upstate districts in the same boat.
“The plight of rural education is in serious trouble,” Mr. Tryon said.
“None of us like this budget, but I think it’s fiscally responsible.”
Saying they support the budget, Vice President Dominga Lent and member Steve Philbrick added that the proposed budget is the most difficult they’ve had to consider in their many years on the board.
“No one’s happy with this,” Mr. Philbrick said.
Member Aimee Yorke said she’d support the budget and lamented that C-R can’t dip into the restricted funds. She also pointed to the criticism board members received.
“To be called the names we’ve been called is over the top,” Ms. Yorke said.
Member Mary Black, a Cobleskill and C-R art teacher for more than 30 years, also said she’d back the budget.
“Why would I want an art teacher to be cut? I hate it,” Ms. Black said. “But I will support the budget.”
Voting against the budget were members Susan Strasser and Jason Gagnon, whose wife is a C-R librarian, who won’t be cut.
Mr. Gagnon argued that librarians are essential for teaching reading.
“This is a huge miss,” he said. “This budget harms students, harms our kids.
“The money’s there. We have more money coming in than we’re spending.”
Rejecting the name-calling that Mr. Sickles endured, Dr. Strasser said she supported the superintendent but felt public speakers had their say.
Many speakers Monday night and at previous meetings pushed for keeping the librarian and art teacher even at the risk of spending more money, she said.
“I think it’s important to listen to the public,” Dr. Strasser said. “I hear the community wants to take that risk.”
The budget goes to a public vote May 20
Business Manager Tracy Fraleigh said if the public rejects the budget, C-R could put the same budget or an amended one up for a second vote.
If the second vote fails, C-R would have to adopt a contingency budget, which means cutting an additional $952,544, Mr. Fraleigh said.