Roslyn Superintendent of Schools Dan Brenner said Thursday that the district’s proposed 2014-15 budget would not require the elimination of any academic programs, staff members or athletic teams.
Brenner said the district’s $102,699,685 million proposal accounts for a .62 percent increase from the $102,065,2012 budget that voters approved last May and was designed based on specific expenditures analyzed during extensive meetings with administrators.
“It was all done very carefully and in a way that did not reduce program,” Brenner said. “We literally went line by line with them to figure out what they need.”
Brenner did not announce the increase in the district’s tax levy during his presentation during Thursday’s board of education meeting but said it would likely fall within the 1.46 percent rise in the Roslyn community’s cost of living.
“This year, the way it works is it’s a 2 percent cap or a cost-of-living increase, whichever of the two is lower, and our cost-of-living increases is 1.46,” Brenner said. “So that’s what you’re shooting for, which is an interesting pressure that every school in the state is facing. It’s kind of interesting because last year that number was higher than the 2 percent cap.”
Approximately 80 percent of the proposed budget will accommodate teacher and employee salaries and benefits, Brenner said, figures which he added have increased each year.
Professional salaries account for 42.6 percent of the budget, Brenner said. Benefits make up 27.8 percent. Support staff salaries comprise 11.8 percent.
Contributions to the state’s teacher’s retirement system increased $891,187 from what had been budgeted for last year, representative of a 12.7 percent increase, Brenner said.
But Brenner said contributions to the state’s employee retirement system decreased by $156,666 from what was approved last May, a decrease of 6.32 percent.
Employee health benefits decreased by $712,171, indicative of a 5.73 percent decrease year-to-year, he said.
“We are a labor-intensive organization,” Brenner said. “We are not a widget-buying organization, we are a service-buying organization, and where does your money go in a service-buying organization? It goes to your people.”
Brenner said that while no employees or teachers were eliminated in creating the budget, he does expect staffing to be affected by retirements and resignations as well as an increasing trend of declining elementary enrollment.
While Roslyn historically has had 12 sections of kindergarten classes each year, Brenner said, the district has had only eight or nine sections in each of the last three years. Class sizes have ranged from 19-21 students per class.
“One of the nice things about declining enrollment is program doesn’t change and you can drop dollars,” Brenner said. “So if people retire and you don’t replace them, you’re saving that money, no one’s getting hurt and you can have your program stay intact.”
Brenner said that in the next year, the district will look to continue its rollout of Roslyn’s iPad initiative and recycle the tablets used by its high school seniors to labs used by elementary-level students.
In addition, the Roslyn’s technology costs are expected to increase as it will replace 23 copy machines, make major security upgrades with cameras and panic buttons, and distribute Apple televisions compatible with iPads throughout the district, Brenner said.
The budget also includes significant facilities equipment additions and decreased special-education costs that Brenner said would be detailed by district administrators in future information sessions during board meetings.
“In essence, what we have is that all these different components are going into a budget that’s going to be bringing us into that .62 [budget-to-budget increase],” Brenner said.
Brenner said the district has also allocated $750,000 for capital improvements. The board budgeted $750,000 last year that was put toward the high school field house, paving and other curbing and fencing projects throughout the district.
Joseph Dragone, Roslyn’s assistant superintendent for business, said the district has budgeted for a $6 million surplus by year’s end that could be applied to the following year’s budget or to its capital plan.
Brenner said the board would announce the final bond total at a future meeting, as well as the approved location for the off-site bus fueling station that is included in the plan.
He also said the board had decided to include an additional gym space at Roslyn High School to cut down on late-night practice hours.
“It allows students to balance their time in a way they couldn’t previously,” Brenner said.
The board will adopt its proposed budget on April 21, two days before the state’s April 23 deadline, Brenner said.
Roslyn voters will vote on the budget and the district’s proposed capital bond, in addition to electing candidates for board of education trustee positions, on May 20.
If the budget does not pass, Brenner said, the board could approve a revised proposal that would be put up for a second vote. If the budget fails twice, the district would set a budget that does not levy any more in taxes than was approved last year.
Prior to the presentation, the board held a student recognition ceremony for district athletes who this year have received All-County or All-State honors.
Roslyn physical education teachers also demonstrated the district’s new obstacle course equipment, which athletic director Dawn Cerrone said could be used to help instill teamwork and trust among athletes and students.
