Somehow, regardless of the month, weather is always a worthy
topic of discussion in our area. This year, I see an unfortunate similarity between
the unsettled nature of our weather conditions in April and the uncertainty associated
with the tasks of organizing and proposing next year’s budget; the state’s
negative stance on funding for public education has ensured that this is
so. Sadly, mid-April has also been
a time of tragedy:
·
April 17, 1961 – failed Bay of Pigs invasion – how
many of you remember that? (You don’t have to answer.)
·
April 19, 1993 – Branch Davidian compound
standoff ending in tragedy
·
April 18, 1995 – Oklahoma City bombing of a
federal building
·
April 20, 1999 – Columbine HS massacre
·
April 16, 2007 – Virginia Tech gunman rampage
·
April 15, 2013 – Boston Marathon bombing
Described by experts on terrorism as a “soft target,” the
Boston Marathon was an event at which no one would anticipate violence of this
nature. Fortunately, the medical
personnel, on hand to assess or treat runners as they completed the marathon,
are credited with saving many lives with their quick triage response. We at Central Cambria join the rest of
the country in thought and prayers for those whose lives were taken, injured or
forever changed by this tragedy.
My wife had qualified for and run the Boston Marathon many
years ago. She remembers the
celebratory atmosphere as families celebrated Patriots Day (an official holiday
in Boston) with barbecues and picnics along the route. I think it is safe to say that the
Boston Marathon will be forever changed; how sad. As an aside, our daughter Morgan was in Boston last week to present
at a medical conference and stayed at a hotel one block from the bombings. Fortunately, she flew home the Saturday
before the race. This vignette serves to remind us just how suddenly our lives
can be disastrously affected by the unanticipated actions of others.
On the subject of security, reflective of its commitment to
the safety of our students and staff, our Board approved several security
enhancements at all buildings. Installment will take place during the summer. The
questions any superintendent has to consider when it comes to safety are “How
much is too much?” and “How much is not enough?” While it is true that one cannot put a price tag on safety, we
must consider a two-pronged reality: first, we must live within our budget to
remain fiscally sound, and; second, we must reluctantly acknowledge that the
adage, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” applies to those who wish us
harm. It is my hope that the federal government will provide some money for
districts to continue their efforts toward a safe environment for students, our
most precious possessions.
Mrs. Kaschalk, our business manager, will present the
district’s user-friendly budget outline for the public on April 18. Her presentation will show that almost
70% of our district’s budget is a fixed cost with zero “wiggle room.” Each line item was scrutinized to see
if a reduction or elimination was warranted. For one thing, we have determined that hiring fewer teachers
than the number of teachers retiring will lead to a very small small increase
in class size. I do sincerely apologize to our teaching staff for the need to
do this but, fortunately or not, enrollment is dropping across grade levels so
this is a viable way to save money. We have also renegotiated our out-sourced
services contracts in order to get better rates. Finally, we have implemented
many of our own special education programs and services, which is far more
cost-effective than contracting such services through the intermediate unit.
Our district continues to do wonderful things for our
students, even with less money.
This is a source of satisfaction for me, board members and taxpayers but
no district can function indefinitely with a monetary deficit; it is inevitable
that, unless circumstances change, districts will be forced to sink into
deficit spending. The
governor’s proposed budget includes a minimal increase for our district – but
this amount does almost nothing to offset the costs we incur to pay for unfunded
or underfunded mandates. For this
reason, I must report that the cuts in place for the current school year will
continue next year as well.
The Board and I are determined to maintain programs and
services that benefit our students even as we work to balance the budget. As always, I urge you to contact the
governor and/or your local legislators. Make your voice heard! Let officials know
that public education is a critical investment in our children. As costs continue to go up, and
districts look to make ends meet, inadequate funding will undoubtedly have a
negative impact on the youth of our society, and on our own well-being and
safety. Consider this telling fact: Pennsylvania spends more money on its
prisons than on its schools.
On a lighter note, I recall that last year at this time I wrote
in my blog, “The Pens are pretty much history this year, and rightfully so.” This year they are making history with
the number of wins and shutouts (what a difference a year can make). But how far into the playoffs will they
go without their leading scorer, Sidney Crosby? Let’s hope that newcomers to
the team can offset the loss of this star player. And it gives me great joy to
note that the NFL schedules have been released, the draft begins April 25, the
Blue and White game is this weekend, and voluntary NFL workouts have
begun. Is it possible? Does anyone
else smell football in the air?
Dr. D.
