GALWAY–There was much speculation about some of the things that were going to be discussed at the Board of Education meeting Thursday, April 18, 2013. Part of the contract with the teachers says that each teacher needs to be notified by April 15 with a pink slip if there is a chance they will be fired by the end of the year. When Mr. Huszar and Mrs. Bornt received their pink slips and the information given by the Board was minimal, people believed that their positions as school psychologist and social worker respectively, were going to be outsourced as a cost saving measure.

At the Board meeting the Board explained they were simply asking the question “Can we do this better” and they’ve now decided that they can’t do it better and they’ve done their homework. Community members were mostly relieved that both positions were safe after much opposition to the idea of outsourcing these jobs. They officially stated they’re not going to reduce either position which was met with applause. The Board wanted to explore other options. It has been decided that it would be more beneficial to the district to keep both positions even though it will cost more to the tax payers.

Next year’s budget includes the full academic, extracurricular and athletic program. This is possible with a 5.36% tax levy. The Board is scared of the community response to this higher number, but believes this increase is what is necessary for the school.
However busing to the school is to be reduced to a single bus run in the morning for all students K-12, and one afternoon run for all, with an extra bus to go home after extracurricular activities. This change in the bus schedule comes with a savings of $70,000 according to Board Member Mr. Rumsey.

One community member suggested that ballpark figures should be released prior to the budget vote in order to educate the public about what a 5.36% tax levy truly means. Louis P. Fasolino told the Board that he as a community member and parent, he would rather the tax levy is higher. He believes that the school should be functioning at a certain level and it would be better to bring taxes up higher now, but then keep it at a more constant rate, rather than gradually increasing it like has been done in the past years. Another community member urged the Board to post budget figures front and center on the district website.

The Board urges community members to support the budget and to help educate other voters about what the 5.36% tax levy means by coming to Board meetings and then spreading the word. The budget vote will take place at the high school on Tuesday, May 21st.