Herricks Superintendent of Schools John Bierwirth gave a bleak projection of the school district budget picture at last Thursday night’s school board meeting, saying that the school district faced cuts of $2 million to $2.3 million from what it would cost to maintain all existing programs for the 2013-14 school year.
“We now have firm numbers for all areas of the budget,” Bierwirth said.
He said the district is facing a rise of approximately 15 percent or 16 percent in the teachers retirement system costs, up from an increase of 11.8 percent in the current year. The exact percentage increase of the teachers retirement system costs would determine the district tax levy, he said.
“At this point we would be asking the public to vote on an increase of 2.9 to 3.5 percent,” Bierwirth said.
The Herricks Board of Education will present $3 million in projected cuts at its Jan. 24 meeting, he said.
If the teachers retirement system rate is 15.5 percent, the tax levy increase would be 2.9 percent. If the teachers retirement rate is 16.8 percent, the tax levy increase would be 3.5 percent.
Bierwirth said the school district budget would likely rise by approximately 2 percent.
“Last year turned out to be slightly better than we anticipated. This year is looking worse,” Bierwirth said.
Jim Gounaris, Herricks school board vice president, said some programs in the district will face cuts the in the 2013-14 budget.
“There are going to be some real difficult decisions,” he said.
The Herricks School Board 2012-13 district budget is $101.27 million budget for 2012-13, a 2.29 percent increase over the current $98.99 million budget. The current school district tax levy is $89,429,579, a 2.88 percent year-to-year increase.
Bierwirth said $3 million in budget cuts could translate into the loss of 25 to 28 staff positions districtwide. He noted that the school district had eliminated 85 staff positions over the past two years – including 47 teaching positions.
Asked if the board had initiated talks with the Herricks Teachers Association on possible salary reductions, Gounaris said, “We’re waiting for them to talk to us. If they have something to say to save their positions, we’re willing to listen.”
Asked if the teachers association planned to initiate discussions with the school board, Herricks Teachers Association President Jane Morales said, “If they approach us, we’ll sit and listen.”
The teachers are currently in the fourth year of a five-year contract with 3 percent increases guaranteed in the final two years of the current contract.
Last year the school board asked the Herricks Teachers Association for revisions to its contract in an effort to avoid staff layoffs. The teachers association offered to reduce salary increases by half, but wanted a two-year contract extension. Talks between the two sides broke down in January, with board President Christine Turner saying the teachers’ offer was insufficient.
In other developments:
• The school board approved three additional school days on Feb. 20, 21 and 22 as to make up for days lost because of Hurricane Sandy and the nor’easter. Contingency days on April 1 and May 28 are also designated as school days. A parent conference day on March 15 will be a regular school day and the January exam period at the high school will be shortened to provide for one more instructional day.
• The school board approved two elective courses for the high school: an Introduction to Sculpture and a year-long 12th grade English course for seniors.
• The board accepted a grant of $8,000 from the Herricks Middle School PTA for purchase of a digital events screen for the middle school.
• The board approved a license agreement with the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts to hold the Herricks Middle School graduation ceremonies there on June 18, 2013 at a cost of $8,836.
• The county Division 1 West Orchestra, composed of elementary school students, will include 26 students from the Denton Avenue School. One-fourth of the orchestra will comprise students from the Denton Avenue, Searingtown and Center Street Schools when it performs on Jan. 13 at noon in the Tilles Center.
