C-R looking at adding back programs, staff

4/8/2015

By Jim Poole

Instead of cutting programs and staff as in past years, Cobleskill-Richmondville may be adding back in its 2015-16 school budget.
That's because C-R made out well in the new state budget approved by the legislature last week.
"They delivered in a way that was long overdue," Superintendent Carl Mummenthey said of the assembly and legislature.
Like those in other districts, C-R officials had been anxiously awaiting the state budget and had feared Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposals--including only a slight hike in state aid--would prevail.
But C-R is receiving an aid increase of nearly $1.2 million, far more than the $900,000 it had planned for.
"This budget year has been one for the ages," said board President Bruce Tryon.
"But I must admit that C-R comes out of the process smiling for the first time in many years."
In order to get under the tax-levy cap, C-R cut programs and staff every year for at least the past five years.
That's likely to reverse in next year's budget.
"Although we can't make sweeping changes, we can begin the conversation about restoration," Mr. Mummenthey said.
Most of the restoration is likely to affect students directly, he added.
Possibilities include adding back counseling and student wellness in elementary schools, reducing class sizes in the middle school, more teacher aides and assistants and computer and tech instruction in elementary schools.
In the non-teaching field, C-R may look for a human resources person that was cut earlier.
"We're a 400-employee organization, and we don't have one person devoted to human resources," Mr. Mummenthey said.
Decisions about what to add back will come in the next few weeks.
"We're pricing these out and prioritizing," Mr. Mummenthey said.
All of the cuts made in past years won't come back in one year. Mr. Mummenthey believes restoration may take as long as the recession lasted--maybe five years.
Also, restoration may not mean exact replacement of what was cut.
"What was cut in 2008 may not be appropriate for where we are now," Mr. Mummenthey said. "Times have changed."
The aid increase reduces substantially C-R's Gap Elimination Adjustment, which is money Albany held back from all school budgets to close its own budget gap.
The state still owes C-R about $600,000 in GEA funds.
"There is still GEA money that must be given back to C-R in future budgets," Mr. Tryon said.
A key factor in receiving more aid was lobbying done by teachers, staff, parents and community members, Mr. Tryon said. Many attended rallies around the state and also wrote to legislators.
"All of the advocacy efforts about funding and the impact it has had on students worked," Mr. Tryon said.
"This board thanks all who contributed in this effort. However, we must continue the fight."
Besides the increase in aid, C-R is getting another financial break because it will pay $470,000 less in pension costs next year.
"That is huge for us," said Mr. Mummenthey, adding that he expects pension costs to continue dropping the next few years.
C-R's draft 2015-16 budget totals $38.2 million, with spending "up a modest 1.67 percent," Mr. Mummenthey said.
And because of the aid increase and pension decrease, the draft budget uses less money from C-R's fund balance, or savings.
C-R used $850,000 from the fund balance in the current budget; it projects to use $350,000 next year.