Cutting to get within the state-allowed tax levy limit, Cobleskill-Richmondville will send a reduced 2012-13 budget to voters June 19.
But the cuts didn't come easily, as school board members resisted pleas to eliminate an administrator's position and save athletics.
School board members Friday agreed to cut an additional $256,712, including $90,000 from modified and varsity sports. That didn't sit well with Amanda Hantho, who ran for the school board but lost in the May election. She argued that school officials suggested earlier that an administrator might be cut and then didn't do so, sacrificing sports.
"I think the community may vote no again," Ms. Hantho said.
Board member Russ Smith agreed, saying that people in the community would rather eliminate an administrator to save sports.
"I think we're making the wrong choice," Mr. Smith said. "I raise the question because it's out there."
At an earlier school board meeting last Tuesday, parents echoed those concerns.
"I'm an advocate for sports," parent Mike Almy said at Tuesday's meeting, "and I don't understand why sports always take such a large hit."
Another parent, Sue Bird, said the sports cuts--as proposed, on modified athletics--will fall on the same students earlier cuts have.
"You're burdening the same group of kids," Ms. Bird told board members Tuesday. "No other programs get cut like sports do."
But board President Bruce Tryon countered at Friday's meeting that administrators have taken on more responsibilities in recent years, including discipline and state mandates, and are about to get more with a new teacher-evaluation program.
And, Mr. Tryon added, cutting an administrator could put student safety at risk.
With an administrator's post cut several years ago and the business administrator going part-time this year, principals have more management duties, said Superintendent Lynn Macan.
Administrators address issues "so teachers can teach," she said.
"It's a very difficult situation," agreed board member Steve Philbrick. "In the year I've been on the board, I have a much greater appreciation for what an administrator does.
"Good companies and good educational systems run from the top down."
If voters defeat this budget June 19, C-R must adopt at contingency budget with no tax increase. That would require cutting an additional $383,657.
Ms. Macan didn't specify what those cuts might be, but noted at Tuesday's meeting that "If we lose this budget, we'll have to look at further elimination of programs."
At Friday's meeting, Mr. Smith voted against the cuts, while Mr. Tryon, Mr. Philbrick and board members Howard Rickard and Jeff Foote voted for them.
Board members Maureen Nicholas and Liz Montario were not at the 7am meeting.
The sports cut is similar to one made this year, though parents raised money to return the programs.
Ms. Macan said the district may not make the broad sports cuts as proposed last year. The cuts may come sport by sport, rather than all modified sports, she said.
Mr. Philbrick asked that C-R provide the costs of each sport in case parents want to fundraise again. Ms. Macan agreed.