Cortland Jr./Sr. High School. (Photo Source: Kevin L. Smith/Cortland Voice).
The revote on Cortland Enlarged City School District’s (CECSD) second budget proposal is today (June 20).
Residents within the CECSD can vote on the budget proposal between noon and 9 p.m. today 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
Residents will vote on the second proposed 2023-24 budget, which sits at $53,466,042. The original proposal, 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
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. The district will not offer it this summer. The individuals who run the program are typically teachers who receive extra stipends.
According to CECSD business administrator Kris Williamson, if the second budget proposal doesn’t pass, the district will implement a contingency budget. Budget cuts from the contingency plan would include certain supplies, materials and equipment, but no cuts in terms of staffing, Williamson said.
A breakdown of CECSD’s second budget proposal can be viewed by clicking here. The district’s budget documents are here.
