As it moves toward presenting two versions of next year’s school budget in two weeks, the Herricks School Board received some potentially good news at last Thursday’s board meeting as the Herricks Teachers’ Association indicated its willingness to work with the board to cope with the current state fiscal crunch.
Craig Legnese, president of the teachers’ association read a statement to the board, saying, “In light of the financial crisis facing the Herricks School District, the Herricks Teacher’s Association agrees that it is necessary to enter into a serious dialogue with the Board of Education. We hope that our conversations can lead to solutions which may ease the burden facing the Herricks Community.”
Herricks board member Paul Ehrbar called the statement “a beginning step,” adding, “It hopefully will begin a good process.”
The teachers’ association statement follows board president Christine Turner’s report at the last meeting that the Herricks Association of Administrators and Supervisors had made a similar overture to the board through its president, Karen Hughes.
“It was welcome news to a lot of people’s ears,” said resident Jim Gounaris.
Herricks Superintendent of Schools John Bierwirth reported that he and his staff are working “intensely” on two budgets, one that would maintain all current programs and services in the school district, and a second to comply with the anticipated 2 percent tax levy cap that Gov. Andrew Cuomo will seek to impose with the next state budget.
“We are not done. We’re brainstorming,” said Bierwirth, who said his staff is looking at specific positions and what people earn. Bierwirth had previously indicated that “dozens” of teaching positions would likely be eliminated with a budget complying with the 2 percent cap.
A budget complying with the cap would either show no increase from the current $50 million budget, or could require a 1 percent cut in spending from current levels, according to Bierwirth, who said a “stand-pat” budget retaining all current programs would increase spending by 6.77 percent.
Bierwith said he planned to make presentations of both budgets to the PTA Council at its Feb. 2 meeting and at the next school board meeting on Feb. 3.
With no state budget yet in place, Bierwirth said he could not estimate how much the school district was likely to lose in state aid this year.
“They don’t even know where they’re starting from. It’s very strange,” he said.
Bierwirth noted that the board had created a $500,000 reserve last year, anticipating a shortfall in state aid equal to that amount. But he indicated erosion of state beyond that level would present the district with serious financial hardship.
“It there are further cuts on top of that, we’re in trouble,” Bierwirth said.
A reduction in aid by $870,000 would translate to a 1 percent increase in the tax rate, Bierwirth said.
One issue he intended to address in budget discussions is the state requirement that all students eligible for bus transportation have a seat available on their respective bus routes. Bierwirth noted that he observes high school buses with many vacant seats and said some “slack” in the state rule – prompted by an injury to a student who was standing on a crowded bus – could mean a $150,000 reduction in costs.
“Empty seats benefit nobody,” Bierwirth said.
In other developments:
• The board tabled a resolution to join in a lawsuit being brought by Hamburger, Maxson, Yaffe, Knauer & McNally, LLP on behalf of the Nassau-Suffolk School Board Association to challenge the proposed end of the “County Guarantee.” Bierwirth said the board’s counsel, Jaspin & Schlesinger is not comfortable with the language of the contract the school board association’s firm has in the agreement it is asking school board’s to endorse.
But Bierwirth said he did want to indicate to the association that the school board isn’t yet prepared to sign on, but does supports the suit.
“When they’re sitting there deciding whether they have 56 or 35 school districts behind them, I think we want to say we’re behind them,” he said.
The Nassau County Legislature recently approved a plan by Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano to eliminate the guarantee, which obligates the county to make up shortfalls in local tax revenues due to tax appeal cases.
• The board tabled a resolution for approval of late transportation requests. The deadline for such applications will be April 1.
• The board voted unanimously to retain Dvirka and Bartilucci Consulting Engineers to perform work to solve a problem with water pressure in the fire hydrants at Herricks High School. Bierwirth said there is sufficient pressure in each individual hydrant, but when more than one hydrant is opened simultaneously, the water pressure drops. He said it represents no immediate danger to the students, and could date back to the construction of the school.
