BY MICHELLE MILLER
STAFF WRITER
According to Milford Central
School Superintendent Peter Livshin,
the district had a goal of getting its
tax levy increase down to zero.
This goal was not quite met when
board of education members adopted
a proposed budget of $9,305,874
for the 2010-11 school year during
last week’s meeting. However,
district taxpayers will see less than a
1 percent increase _ a .35 percent_ in
the tax levy.
Livshin said the proposed budget
includes the district’s summer
special education program, which
the district may get money back for
depending on the governor’s special
education refund proposal.
In order to cut the proposed
budget, board members decided to
phase out French. Students currently
taking French will have the opportunity
to continue with their sequence,
but under the proposal, students will
not be able to begin French starting
next year.
There are no substantial immediate
savings with the French teacher
going to .8 next year, according
to BOE President Tom Brennan.
However, he said board members are
anticipating the need for additional
savings throughout the next several
years. He said this will allow the
district to obtain those savings over
time with no impact to students
taking French when the savings are
obtained with limited impact to
future students given enrollment
trends.
``Obviously, we
are disappointed
with reducing
choice in this area
_ at least in the
short term,’’ said
Brennan.
The district has
also eliminated
a technology
teacher. According to Brennan, the
district will provide mandated curriculum
with current faculty.
``BOCES can provide to our
students much of the additional curriculum
we are currently providing
in-house,’’ said Brennan, who said the
district is seeking to avoid duplication.
``We will actually be seeking
to expand the scope of technology
offerings through alternative arrangements.’’
There will be reductions in the
number of staff MCS obtains through
BOCES. MCS will also be
reducing staff and some
services that were funded
with stimulus money last
year. For example, the district
will be eliminating a .8
elementary librarian position
that was created because of
a three-year grant. According
to Livshin, MCS was under
no obligation to keep the
position, but did so for the
benefit of the students. The
district extended the offering
by at least two years after the
grant ran out, said Livshin.
MCS will also be eliminating
two licensed teaching assistant
positions and several
assistant coaching positions,
according to Livshin.
Brennan said the district
hopes to see savings next
year from two retirements
and an approved leave of
absence for an elementary
teacher. Livshin said the
president’s signing of a new
health care bill may have a
significant impact on the expense
of health insurance. He
said under the new bill, those
26 and younger that do not
have health insurance or a
job that provides it will be
eligible to obtain it through
their parents’ coverage. This
may have little or a huge
impact on school districts,
said Livshin.
Brennan said savings
obtained from aggressively
managing this year’s budget
and greater than expected
reimbursements in certain
budget categories is permitting
the district to increase
the level of reserves being
used this year to reduce the
tax levy.
``We have attempted to
look at the budget as a three
year project,’’ said Brennan.
``In this budget, the board
has sought to provide as
much relief as we can to
Milford taxpayers given current
economic conditions
without compromising on
the excellence of the Milford
educational program and
without risking the district’s
financial position.’’
Brennan said board members
expected this year’s
process to be painful but
manageable. However, he
said it has been more painful
than imagined given aid cuts
that fell into the district’s
``worst case’’ scenario.
``We are under no illusion
that next year will be easier,’’
said Brennan. ``But while
there may be disagreement
with individual decisions,
which is healthy and to
be expected, everyone in
Milford wants the best for the
kids of our community and
are focused on addressing
the significant challenges we
will be facing over the next
several years.’’
A budget hearing has been
scheduled for May 10 at 7 p.m.
in the performing arts center.
Community members will
have the opportunity to vote
on the proposed budget and
for those seeking a seat on the
board of education from 2-8
p.m. outside the performing
arts center on May 18. According
to Livshin, there are three
vacant seats on the board.
