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Dear KPS Families,
We are all aware that our country, our state and our
community have been suffering from the economic crisis.
We are a community of hard working and caring people.
For years I have been a part of this KPS community.
I have seen the time, effort, and dedication our Board
of Education has given to help our schools to maintain
strong academic success. In late winter, I see the
number of seats filled increase at Board of Ed
meetings. People start getting worried about a tax
increase and what will be cut from their child’s school.
Will we lose our favorite teacher? Will we lose a
special? What about sports programs?
This
year we need to see those seats filled now. Last year was a very tough
budget process. I watched as students past and present,
teachers and staff, parents and community members stood
up for what they felt was right. What should be cut? A
job position, a salary, or a program? What should be
changed? Is Arts in Education more important than
Sports? Is Sports more important? The balancing act
that our district officers need to perform is a tough
one. How do you decide?
Well, part of the decision has been made for us. It is
financial. Just like in your own household there is
only a certain amount of money to run it. Like it or
not we all have bills that won’t change. We then have
to look at the “extras”. In the world of education what
is an “extra”? Where do you come up with the money
needed to keep what we have going and improve upon it?
Falling home values and rising taxes in a school
district that has a very limited commercial tax base
means that homeowners shoulder the burden. Every time
the school district puts forth a budget, taxes go up.
Some say it's time for that to stop. True enough, but
let's be sure to look at this realistically.
New York State has a new law: The 2% Tax Cap. (I do
hope you will take the time to read the email describing
the details. You can also find Eric Stark’s
presentations on the front page of the
district website.)
With this tax cap we will be VERY limited in our
resources going into the 2012-13 school year. We, the
Carmel Central School District, have those fixed bills I
mentioned. Many of them come in the form of Unfunded
State Mandates. This means that if NY State says we
have to buy all new special pencils and the cost is
$200,000 - WE HAVE TO BUY THEM. That is an unfunded
mandate. Now, I am sure some of them are not as mundane
as a pencil and note that is only an example. But
we still have to buy the pencils! This takes money away
from programs like art and modified sports and
staffing. It takes money away from us being able to
upgrade programming and technology. It affects our
ability to improve common spaces such as locker rooms
and bleachers.
Without a doubt, we are lucky that our BOE and District
Office are proactive in the upkeep of our campuses. But
things break and age and eventually need to be fixed and
replaced.
What we need is to hear more about these mandates that
are sucking the resources from our children’s
education. You elect your public officials. You pay
their salary. Don’t you think they should get to work
for you easing the burdens that have been put upon us?
Now I ask you… what can you do with $780,790?? That is
what NY State had decreased our aid by just this school
year. In the past few years aid has decreased over 12%
- over $3 million dollars. Next year we stand to lose
more aid. Is that fair? Do you think that money would
have been able to fund the items that we have had to
cut? The staff we have been forced to lose? The
upgrades I mentioned? Just imagine what the blueprint of
our budget would have looked like these past years
without those red numbers!
I urge you to pay attention to this issue. It is an
important one. The first step is - get the facts. Here
is where you get the facts: Board of Education
meetings. They are held on the 2nd Tuesday
of each month. See the
district website
for locations and dates or link from our site. Can’t go
to a meeting? Each meeting is videotaped and available
to watch on Channel 22 on Comcast. A copy is available
at the local library. Can’t get to the library? Look
for the minutes on the district website. Important
information and presentations are available to you
through the CCSD site.
Our children get one chance at their education. It
deserves to be the best we can offer them.
Michelle Yorio is a parent of three children in
the CCSD, and current co-President of the KPSPTO
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