 |
| May 19, 2025 |
Welcome! Click here to Login
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Click to visit the
Official Town Site
|
|
|
|
|
|
General News: Proposed Cuts Restored in School Budget
April 20, 2010
Many of the teachers, parents and students who had worried about the loss of teaching positions in Cornwall next year can breathe a little easier today after school board members agreed to restore may of the positions that had been on the chopping block.
After a marathon four-hour meeting on Monday night, the board of education decided to keep an elementary school music teacher, 10 teaching assistants who will be assigned now to both kindergarten and first-grade classes as needed and will likely keep both the high school business teacher and a physical education teacher next year.
School board president Larry Berger explained that the restoration of these positions was made possible in part by eliminating three new teaching positions that had been planned for the elementary schools in anticipation of rising enrollment that would lead to larger class sizes. Instead of putting in those positions, he said, the board decided to restore the teaching assistant positions and use them to assist in larger first-grade classrooms. The board also decided to bring back two library aides in the elementary schools and restored cuts to the tutorial program, modified sports, and some of the clubs and extra curricular activities, he said.
Berger said that the board members had to be creative in deciding how to allot money in the budget. “There was soul searching on everybody’s part,” Berger noted. “It wasn’t 100 percent agreement on every line but in the end there was consensus.”
The new budget proposal will reduce the projected tax levy on property owners as well – from 4.47 percent to 3.37 percent.
Berger expects that some final changes will be made to the budget on at a meeting on Thursday, when the board must vote to approve it. The board will also propose a contingency budget that will go into effect should voters turn down the budget in a vote on May 18th.
Comments:
|
I applaud the BOE's decision on keeping the elementary school music teacher.
Data from a University of Texas study indicated that those students who received an Arts Education that included music received higher SAT scores. Studies have also shown that music can benefit cognitive abilities, particularly spatial abilities, higher reasoning and motor skills, and higher achievements in language and math. I know the board has a very tough job and would have accepted and respected their judgement either way.
I know Sarah Suby and Mr Kessler do a fantastic job with the kids which will have a positive impact on them for life. Thanks.
posted by P W on 04/20/10 at 4:54 PM
|
|
Kudos to the BOE for the thought, soul-searching and courage that they put into this decision. I am especially happy about keeping the TA's in kindergarten classes--they are critical to getting our kids started right. And keeping the music teacher is very important also. Yay!
posted by Deborah Jacoby-Twigg on 04/20/10 at 5:17 PM
|
|
Thank you BOE for the hard work.. and thoughtful dedication to our children!!! Mrs. Suby is fantastic in the elem schools & Mr. Jones is such awesome, fresh energy in that high school!!! Yesss!!!
posted by Sandi Kessner on 04/20/10 at 7:21 PM
|
Add a Comment:
Please signup or login to add a comment.
|
 |
|
|
|
