BY MICHELLE MILLER
STAFF WRITER
Cherry Valley-Springfield Superintendent
Robert Miller says he has
been losing sleep during his time preparing
for the 2010-11 school budget.
Miller says he could not have
stepped into the role of Superintendent
at a worse time. He says he is
not just planning for next year, but is
trying to look down the road toward
the following year as well.
``There is a really scary forecast,’’ he
says.
According to a presentation Miller
made at the district’s last board of
education meeting, the total proposed
budget is $11,681,346. Miller
said district residents can expect to
see a 2.9 percent
increase in the tax
levy for the 2010-11
school year. This is
equivalent to an approximately
$29 increase
for a taxpayer
who owns a house
worth $100,000.
Miller says the
district is anticipating the retirement
of four teachers and one licensed
teacher assistant. He says there is
a plan to make reductions in staff.
Miller’s proposal, shows a reduction
in speech by .2, music by .4,
guidance by .9, library by .3,
an assistant principal by .5,
home economics by .5, a business
official by .5, an elimination
of a physical education
teacher and licensed teacher
assistant, and two aids. The
proposal also unveiled a
reduction of a bus route.
Miller says the district has
57 licensed teacher assistants
and hopes to have that number
down to 52 in a few years.
Cutting is not a fun task,
says Miller, However, he says
when the district is getting
smaller and the aid is being
cut there is no choice but
to make some changes and
adjustments.
Miller says his goal is to
plan, reflect, adjust, innovate,
economize and improve. He
says it’s time to think outside
the box and be creative.
Shared services are a part
of Miller’s proposal. Miller
says CV-S can share a distance
learning business program
with its neighboring school
district Sharon Springs in
order to replace the current
BOCES program being used.
He suggests that CV-S also
share computer services with
Sharon Springs, teaching
services with Sharon Springs
and Richfield Springs and
speech services for preschool
students with Otsego County.
Another avenue Miller says he
would like to further investigate
is the idea of virtual
classes.
Members of the board of
education plan to adopt the
proposed budget tonight
at its 7 p.m. meeting held in
room 145. The district plans
to mail information to the
public in mid April. A public
hearing will be held in the
school building on Thursday,
May 6 at 7 p.m. A budget vote
and election of members of
the board of education will
be held on Tuesday, May 18 in
the school between the hours
of noon and 8 p.m.
A copy of the proposed
budget and the tax exemption
report may be obtained
by any resident of the district
at the District Office during
the 14 days immediately
preceding the vote, except
Saturday, Sunday or a holiday,
between the hours of 10 a.m.
and 3 p.m.
Petitions nominating
candidates for the office of
member of the board of education
must be filed with the
district clerk at the District
Office between the hours
of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. no later
than April 19. An application
for absentee ballots may
be obtained at the District
Office.
