Budget time once again...

Spring has barely sprung and the weather is breaking all kinds of heat records. Following an extremely mild winter, spring appears to have morphed into summer in the span of two weeks. Although the weather is always a topic of conversation during April, those close to public education know it is also the time when many districts are organizing and proposing next year’s budget. This year, such activities are likely to be as unsettled as the weather this time of year.

Mrs. Kaschalk, our business manager, will present our district’s user-friendly budget outline for the public on April 19. 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, with a list of recommendations presented to the Board. To name a few, this list included fewer teachers being hired to replace those retiring, leading to a small increase in class size, renegotiating out-sourced services contracts, and implementing our own Autistic Support Program.

As you may recall, last year at this time we provided the community, staff, parents and students with a survey to gauge what areas of the district are most important as the budget is developed. The information garnered from this survey helped to keep our district fiscally sound and provided much information about the needs and priorities of our area. The survey helped us identify which items are essential and which can eliminated or modified in the years to come.

Last year I predicted, “This is just the beginning of belt tightening for many districts across the Commonwealth,” and this has certainly proven to be the case. Our district continues to do wonderful things for our students, even with less money. This is commendable, but how long can any district do this? Just as a person on a strict diet can live on fewer calories than he burns for only a finite length of time, districts can function at a monetary deficit for only a limited number of years before sinking into deficit spending. The governor’s proposed budget includes no increase for our district as we continue to pay for unfunded or underfunded mandates. As a result, the cuts made for this year will continue for next year as well.

As the Board and I continue to work on a balanced budget, everyone recognizes how public education is vastly different from what it looked 20 years ago; school districts have shouldered responsibility for much more than the three Rs; it falls to schools to provide instruction and opportunities in the arts, physical wellness, and personal development. So, while we proudly exert our efforts toward the benefit of our students, we have come to realize that nothing in our district is considered safe and untouchable when the budget axe gets sharpened and begins to swing in our direction. We need your help in restoring educational funding to our district.


I urge you to contact the governor and/or local legislators to make your voice heard and let them know that public education is an important investment in our children. As costs continue to go up, and districts look to make ends meet, the lack of funding will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the youth of our society, and on our own well-being and safety.

Now back to my regularly scheduled discussion of sports. The Pens are pretty much history this year, and rightfully so. As much as I am a fan of our Pittsburgh teams, the Penguins on Sunday were sad poster children for “How to Lose a Hockey Game and Your Dignity.” On a more positive note, the NFL schedules have been released, Charlie Batch was resigned for another year, the draft begins April 26, the Blue and White game is this weekend, and voluntary NFL workouts have begun. I can smell the pigskin being tossed about already….

Dr. D.