BY MICHELLE MILLER
STAFF WRITER
Last-minute changes have
been made to the Cooperstown
Central School proposed
2010-11 budget.
The Cooperstown Board of
Education and administration
have been plucking away
at the district’s proposed
spending plan in order to find
additional savings.
School officials said a 7.2
percent tax levy increase is
not realistic in today’s economic
climate so more cuts
will be made to the proposed
budget to reduce the burden
on taxpayers.
The goals, according to
school officials, has been
to maintain the strongest
academic program, address
declining enrollment and
demonstrate an awareness of
the district’s fiscal constraints.
The following additional adjustments
have been made to
the proposed spending plan:
Elimination of one additional
elementary classroom
position;
Elimination of one additional
teacher’s aide position;
Adjustment to all salary
lines;
Reduction of materials
and supply purchases;
Reinstate JV field hockey
team because of participation
numbers;
and the inclusion of summer
driver’s education as a
cost-neutral program.
These changes bring the
proposed budget total to
$15,965,502, a decrease of 3.5
percent over the current year’s
spending plan. This would
generate a proposed average
tax levy increase of 5.8
percent.
Past proposed adjustments
that cover all aspects of district
budgeting are:
Elimination of one elementary
classroom position;
Elimination of one business
education position;
Elimination of a vocal
music position;
Reduction of a foreign
language position;
Reduction of a technology
education (industrial arts)
position;
Elimination of two
teacher’s aide positions;
Elimination of one monitor
position;
Reduction of a clerical
position;
Elimination of the high
school ETC coordinator position;
Reduction of BOCES
purchased services;
Elimination of JV levels
for baseball, field hockey and
football
Reduction of co-coaching
positions for modified
basketball;
Elimination of the assistant
modified wrestling coach
and volleyball scorekeeper;
Reduction of co-advisors
in a series of extracurricular
offerings;
Reduction of the proposed
bus purchase from two
to one (which will be on a
separate proposition);
and increase an English
position to full time, and
add a full-time educational
technology specialist teaching
position.
According to school
officials, the district has
encouraged public participation
in the budget-planning
process and have appreciated
the efforts, comments and
input from those who have
attended public meetings or
communicated their sentiments
in writing
The Cooperstown Board
of Education was to host a
“You Have Our Ear’’ meeting
before its regular meeting
on Wednesday night. The
2010-11 proposed budget
was scheduled to be adopted
during the board meeting.
A public hearing will take
place on May 5 and members
of the community will
have the chance to vote on
Tuesday, May 18 from 11
a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Sterling
Auditorium.
