First Round of School Budget Cut Recommendations To Be Detailed Tonight

Board of Education members will meet tonight to hear recommendations from the district's administration team about what to cut from the district's budget next year. 

The district is facing a nearly $17 million budget shortfall, which amounts to about $1,140 per pupil.

; tonight's recommendations will be the first in a two-month process that will end with approval of the 2011-12 budget.

Among the recommendations that will be detailed tonight:

• To defer the start of full-day kindergarten to the 2012-13 school year.
• To keep bus service for all grades.
• To cut all building, department and district budgets by 5 percent. Those budgets are $8.8 million; the cut would save just over $440,000.
• To reduce and restructure paraeducator services.
• To reduce the general fund subsidy of athletics by 10 percent.

Board members will also consider:

A school renaming policy. The creation of this policy was spurred by a graduate's request in December to have an after fellow graduate Adam Malson, who was killed in Iraq in 2005. Ed Nowicki, who made the initial request, plans to address board members again in person tonight.

An anti-bullying policy. This policy outlines a definition of bullying and directs those who violate the policy to be punished in accordance with the district's Code of Conduct.

The next superintendent's contract. Frederick Clarke, whom board members chose as the next leader of Rochester Community Schools, would be paid a $172,000 salary under the proposed contract. See related story,

The Board of Education meets at 7 tonight in the Harrison Room of the building. The meeting is open to the public.