School Board slashes trips, sports
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By Josh O'Gorman Herald Staff - Published: January 14, 2009
SPRINGFIELD — Field trips, athletics and after-school programs are all on the chopping block after nearly $1 million was cut from the proposed budget for the Springfield School Board.
Monday night, district administration presented a budget to the School Board with $921,172 in cuts from the one originally offered in December. The proposed operating budget — $23,483,004 — is identical to the current budget approved by voters in June.
The new proposed budget is increasing $1,462,491, or 6.2 percent, from $23,483,004 to $24,945,495. The increase is due to debt payments for the $32.8 million bond approved by voters November 2006 to improve the town's elementary schools.
The new budget will raise the residential tax rate 8.5 cents, or 7 percent, from $1.1963 to $1.2813. A property owner with a home valued at $150,000 will see his or her taxes increase from $1,794 to $1,922. Taxes on a home valued at $250,000 will rise from $2,991 to $3,203.
The cuts will apparently affect students more than teachers, who, with the revised budget, will still receive $513,705 in salary and benefit increases.
"We want to thank the principals for making a minimal impact on student learning," said Stephen Karaffa, president of the Springfield Teacher's Association.
While the teachers might be happy, students next year will likely miss going on field trips. The field trip budgets for elementary, middle and high schools have been cut entirely, a savings of $18,950.
The revised budget also cuts more than $24,000 for athletic equipment and salaries for coaches and officials. The $40,000 originally budgeted for after-school programs has been cut in half.
Also cut from the budget is $270,670 in new staff positions, including an elementary school world language teacher, a new custodian for Union Street School and two technology-related positions.
"It's unclear what the effects of these cuts will be," said Becky Read, principal of Riverside Middle School, which cut $75,000 supplies books and equipment.
Read said nearly half of her students receive free or reduced lunch, an indication of poverty, and in the past the school provided these students with pencils, binders and composition books. Next fall, she said, parents living in poverty will have to buy these school supplies for their children.
The budget received the unanimous approval of the budget advisory committee, and while the board will meet again Thursday, it is unclear what more will be done before Monday, when the board is expected to sign the warrant for town meeting March 3.
The meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in Room B118 of the River Valley Technical Center.
Contact Josh O'Gorman at josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com.
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