Kris Williamson, the business administrator for the Cortland Enlarged City School District, spoke at Tuesday's hearing on the district's second budget proposal. (Photo provided by Timothy A. Bennett, Owner & Publisher of The Cortland Voice).
The Cortland Enlarged City School District (CECSD) held its budget hearing and a discussion on Tuesday in regard to its second budget proposal.
The hearing started off the evening at the CECSD high school auditorium. It was followed by the monthly Board of Education meeting that included further discussion about the budget proposal.
A recording of Tuesday’s budget hearing, meeting and discussion is below:
Residents within the CECSD will soon vote on the proposed 2023-24 budget, which sits at $53,466,042. The original proposal, which was voted down by residents in mid-May, was $54,508,998.
CECSD’s restructured budget shows a 1.89% tax levy, a significant change from the initial proposed tax levy from the school district’s proposal (9.5% tax levy). In order for the restructured budget to pass, it requires a 50% majority vote, plus-1.
According to CECSD superintendent Bob Edwards, the decrease in the proposed tax levy means the school district will propose reductions.
Over 15 positions/programs will be reduced, including:
- Administrator secondary
- Attendance clerk
- Broadcast technician
- Director of curriculum and instruction
- Drivers’ education
- English-Language Arts (ELA) – high school teacher
- Instructional coach
- Library aides
- Math – high school teacher
- School monitor
- Special education teacher
- Teaching assistants
- Transportation administrative assistant
According to CECSD business administrator Kris Williamson, four of the positions – director of curriculum and instruction, administrator secondary and two teaching assistants – are retirements and will not be refilled.
The special education position was created but unfilled. Aside from the retirements and unfilled roles, the other 11 positions are layoffs.
Reductions, aside from supplies and materials, also include $66,000 for the driver’s education program. Williamson said CECSD will not offer it this summer. The individuals who run the program are typically teachers who receive extra stipends, Williamson added.
Voting on the budget proposal is scheduled for noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the following locations:
- Kaufman Center (Cortland School District Office), 1 Valley View Drive
- Cortlandville Municipal Garage, 3587 Terrace Road
- Virgil Town Hall, 1176 Church Street
Williamson told The Cortland Voice on Wednesday that if the second budget proposal doesn’t pass, the district will implement a contingency budget.
Budget cuts from the contingency would include certain supplies, materials and equipment, but no cuts in terms of staffing, Williamson said.
