Unique Visits
On the Money: School Board Presents the Proposed 2009-2010 Budget
by Annie MassaThese days almost every printed article, advertisement, and news program begins with the same phrase: “In these troubled economic times…”
It doesn’t really matter what the article is actually about, or what product they’re peddling, or what news story the anchor is about to discuss. The five-word preface is always the same. This article is no different.
In these troubled economic times, it seems that there’s not a metaphorical belt in the country that can afford to go without some tightening. And as the Bronxville Board of Education goes through the process of drawing up the budget for 2009-2010, our school will certainly not prove to be an exception. In a meeting on Thursday, March 19th the School Board presented the draft of the budget that it will in all likelihood adopt next month, and pass on to a village vote in May. The total comes out to $44,227,561, a 1.4% spending increase from this year—and one of the school’s lowest budget-to-budget increases of the last decade. In an e-mail message to The Echo, School Board President Rick Rugani assured us that from a high school student’s perspective, the change will barely be noticeable. Nonetheless, the Board has had to begin a long-term tweaking process, taking a serious look at where cuts can be made. For example, the schools that Bronxville athletic teams play against next year could get switched around slightly in an effort to save on transportation. School superintendent David Quattrone and high school principal Terrence Barton both predicted that it may be necessary to remove some low-enrollment electives (see “Number One in the Class” for more on those) from the high school’s list of offerings, increasing the size of other classes by a small margin. A few cost-reducing changes to the Elementary, Middle School and central offices will be made as well.
The other consideration School Board trustees have in creating the budget is what new upgrades and program add-ons must be put on hold. At one point there were stirrings that a new non-western language might be offered in the high school. For those of you who were looking forward to such a program, it would appear that the most advisable course of action now is not to hold your breath, and maybe to invest instead in that Rosetta Stone software they sell in the middle of the mall. Likewise, anyone who had hopes of seeing a new Olympic-sized indoor pool, fully staffed barn and stable, nuclear energy research facility or astronomical observatory installed on school grounds will have to remain patient in coming years.
Speaking of the future, you may wonder what sort of budget-related change our school will be seeing on a more long-term scale. Dr. Quattrone forecasts that the school’s budget problems will probably continue in the coming years. If this is true and more dramatic cuts become necessary, it will be essential for the school to assess what programs its students value most so that the best courses are kept intact. But it’s hard as of now to determine if we’ve weathered most of this storm, or whether the worst is yet to come. Said Mr. Rugani, “It's important to keep in mind that if our national economic crisis continues, we may face even more difficult financial decisions in the 2010-2011 school year and beyond. Despite these challenges, the Board is committed to maintaining excellence in all our schools and providing all our students with a first-class education.”
So regardless of car insurance, it looks like we’re in good hands.
The other consideration School Board trustees have in creating the budget is what new upgrades and program add-ons must be put on hold. At one point there were stirrings that a new non-western language might be offered in the high school. For those of you who were looking forward to such a program, it would appear that the most advisable course of action now is not to hold your breath, and maybe to invest instead in that Rosetta Stone software they sell in the middle of the mall. Likewise, anyone who had hopes of seeing a new Olympic-sized indoor pool, fully staffed barn and stable, nuclear energy research facility or astronomical observatory installed on school grounds will have to remain patient in coming years.
Speaking of the future, you may wonder what sort of budget-related change our school will be seeing on a more long-term scale. Dr. Quattrone forecasts that the school’s budget problems will probably continue in the coming years. If this is true and more dramatic cuts become necessary, it will be essential for the school to assess what programs its students value most so that the best courses are kept intact. But it’s hard as of now to determine if we’ve weathered most of this storm, or whether the worst is yet to come. Said Mr. Rugani, “It's important to keep in mind that if our national economic crisis continues, we may face even more difficult financial decisions in the 2010-2011 school year and beyond. Despite these challenges, the Board is committed to maintaining excellence in all our schools and providing all our students with a first-class education.”
So regardless of car insurance, it looks like we’re in good hands.
