Rochester School Board Will Continue Budget Talks

Members of the Rochester Board of Education will continue discussions on the 2012-13 school year budget during a regular meeting tonight.

The meeting is at 7 p.m. in the Harrison Room of the Rochester School Administration Building.

Faced with a budget deficit that will be between $9.3 million and $10 million, leaders of  are studying which programs will need to be cut or scaled back next year.

Board of Education members have instructed administrators to suggest budget cutbacks that are about half the deficit amount. The rest of the deficit will be cushioned by the district's general fund balance, which is about $23.5 million.

Dan Romzek, the district's assistant superintendent for business, is expected to lead a presentation to board members that will detail $4.62 million in proposed cutbacks. Those include:

• Eliminate five teacher positions. This cutback would result in more combined classrooms in the elementary schools. It would save $325,000.
• The use of at-risk grant funding for interventionist positions. This would free up general fund costs for these six positions, though it would provide less grant funding for other grant initiatives.Savings: $275,000.
• Reduce from full-time to half-time a curriculum clerk position. Savings: $36,897.
• Reduce by $201,000 the special education department budget.
• Reduce health insurance costs for school aged care employees, which coincides with these employees' reduced work hours because of all-day kindergarten. Savings: $109,003.
  
• Reduce bus replacement fund by 10 percent. Savings: $50,000.
  
• Reduce department budgets by 5 percent. Savings: $239,532.
  
• Reduce the number of teacher leaders and reduce their planning days. Savings: $34,240.
  
• Reduce substitute teacher costs associated with school business activities like professional development. Savings: $30,000.
  
• Reduce clerical staff costs by 5 percent through restructuring. Savings: $264,912.
• Eliminate one full-time counselor position. Savings: $65,000.
  
• Reduce general fund athletics subsidy by 10 percent. This reduction will not be passed on to parents by increased pay-to-play fees. Savings: $125,272.

The outsourcing of custodial and transportation services, which is expected to save the district $2.9 million next year, is also part of the $4.62 million in recommended cutbacks.

One item no longer part of the recommended list is $100,000 in cutbacks to the technology replacement program; that items was taken off the list after some board members expressed their concerns during a meeting earlier this month.

The district's budget is scheduled to be approved on June 18.

Also on tonight's agenda:

• A presentation from , which is celebrating its 50th year this year. Fifth graders at the school will sing the new school song for the audience.
• The presentation of Excellence in Education awards to four district employees.
• An update on changes and improvements to the Stoney Creek Schoolhouse.
• A look at the new school district "dashboard."
• Approval of the Oakland Intermediate School District budget.