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April 20, 2011
To the Editor:
Searching for micro-savings to balance the Cornwall school budget, a board of education member asked: “can we save six dollars by printing the children awards on line?”
An old-timer holding himself up with two aluminum crutches, passed along side me. His face a reflection of embarrassment and pain, he left the room after those words were spoken.
Save six dollars in a 60 million dollar budget!! I felt so embarrassed sitting at the back of the room. I did not speak for the senior citizens on fixed incomes, the workers with frozen wages or the unemployed neighbors stressing out about their underwater house payments, heating bills and feeding their children after the unemployment checks would run out.
Then during the week, an avalanche of information was shared by teachers, SOS (Save Our School) friends, and neighbors.
* I was informed that Cornwall teachers will decline contractual review while waiting for the administration to lead by example.
* I was told that Woodbury schools are cutting a Superintendent Assistant to save over $200,000 with his responsibilities reassigned back to the school principals.
* Pine Bush is cutting two and a half administrative positions and other teachers to share the pain as they balance their budget.
* Why, I was asked, is the Cornwall administration not following the example of neighboring districts? Cooperation is needed with the teachers’ representatives. Know that Cornwall’s 26 top administration positions cost the district taxpayers approximately 3.5 million dollars!!!( The District Financial Office did not provide the requested information for confirmation)
* The Cornwall superintendent’s salary is equal to Governor Cuomo’s!!! His contract signed by the BOE President requires, in addition to annual salary, a one-time $50K longevity payment and other benefits, so “why is he not leading by setting an example?” I was again asked.
These are good questions. Cooperation and contribution by all can save jobs and restore programs to benefit the children. District taxpayers are on a bended knee, under a heavy cumulative load of taxation, unsustainable, without jobs for all.
We ask all the employees of the Cornwall school district to cooperate with each other and equally share the pain with the taxpayers, by reviewing the 75% to 80% of the budget contractual obligations and help maintain the tax levy near 3.5%
Shared sacrifice by all is the American way. Educators, what lessons are you teaching the children??
Anthony Incanno
Cornwall
Comments:
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Why didn't any of administartive salary info come up last night? Why didn't the BOE demand a cut in the administration? Aren't they suppose to be the ones in charge?
Lance Richardaon
posted by Lance Richardson on 04/20/11 at 5:31 PM
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You get what you pay for. Cornwall Schools are one of the best in the nation. IN order to keep Cornwall Real Estate at a premium compared to neighboring communities we need good schools. IT would be dollar wise and penny foolish to diminish our schools. In lieu of conservation, of which I am very supportive of we need to attract business to the Town to help offset taxes. There is enough industrial and commercial properties to help do so. Additionally I have recommended several times that the Town hire a grant writer, hire a grant writer, again hire a grant writer. There are abundant sources of funds available that would provide a leverage to offset costs. Cornwall, turn off the auto pilot and steer us in a positive direction.
posted by j h on 04/21/11 at 2:08 PM
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Thank you, Anthony Incanno, for speaking for so many of us. I don't know anyone who is getting a 5.32% raise this year to help pay their school taxes. Wasn't it ten short years ago when the school budget was around $20 million? I ask all taxpayers to vote "no" on this budget and force the board to make the tough decisions.
posted by James Lawless on 04/21/11 at 9:28 PM
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This is very tough. On the one hand we definitely want our schools to be strong, but on the other with gas prices and food prices skyrocketing and very few if anyone seeing increases in salaries this can't continue. We can "quality school" ourselves right to the poorhouse. At some point - choices have to be made and the line held on advancing taxes. I think Anthony raises very valid questions and see no reason that the school administration shouldn't also have to share the burdeon of these tough times. Much as I support the schools and feel our teachers do a tremendous job, there comes a point where the never ending tax increases MUST be held in check.
posted by Chuck Trella on 04/22/11 at 2:27 PM
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