Hannibal (WSYR-TV) - The Hannibal School District Board of Education adopted their next budget Wednesday, but questions still remain. The board needed to overcome an estimated $1.7 million deficit.
The $25,452,489 budget includes 2.99% increase to the tax levy, but exactly how all of that money will be spent rests on the amount of state aid the district receives. The state budget was due April 1, but has not been completed. The tax increase proposed by the Board may also change depending on the state aid. "The only thing this budget shows is what the facts are right now and so this is a moving target. It will change on our end and the state's end," said Board President Dale Young.
Young had previously told NewsChannel 9 that the district, the 7th poorest in the state, could not afford a huge tax increase.
"We really don't have a lot to cut as far as any extras," said District Superintendent Michael DiFabio. "When a district is cutting core teachers you know they don't have a lot."
One cut the board did restore was a teaching position in physical education, instead of getting rid of a full-time position they'll made it a half-time position. Sports were also included in the budget. If the state comes back to the district with fewer dollars than promised, however, some of the difference would need to be made up in the form of more money from taxpayers.
Previous proposals had included cutting extra-curricular activities, including sports. The district also attempted to negotiate changes to contracts with various employee unions.
Hannibal School Board couldn't agree on budget Wednesday
Hannibal (WSYR-TV) - After hours of debate Wednesday evening, the Hannibal School Board couldn't reach a deal on the budget. They were scheduled to cast their final votes.
The district relies heavily on state aid and initial budget proposals included eliminating all sports and extracurricular activities. Those have since been put back in, but other cuts have to be made.
Hannibal is facing a $1.7 million budget deficit next year. The board has been renegotiating with employee unions to secure wage freezes to help bridge the gap.
The school board has until the end of next week to pass a budget.
Hannibal School District asks teachers to negotiate
Hannibal (WSYR-TV) - The Hannibal School Board is turning to its employees to help save jobs, sports, and other extracurricular activities. The small school district is facing a $1.7-million budget gap, and wants to freeze wages to help compensate.
At Wednesday night's meeting, the School Board asked the teacher's union to come to the bargaining table and accept a two-year pay freeze. The Board is also hoping the union will agree to eliminate stipends for coaches and activity leaders.
So far the board says they've met with 5 of the 6 employee organizations. The only one remaining is the faculty association. No representative of that group spoke at Wednesday's meeting, but a letter was read saying that teacher's just can't afford to make any concessions. The Board asked them to reconsider.
"In this time that we're in it's gotta be a shared sacrifice," said School Board Vice-President Matt Henderson. "Right now they still have an opportunity to step up, and I'm still holding out hope that they'll do that."
The School Board was going to set the tax levy at this meeting, but put off that decision until they get a response from the teacher's union on the new proposal.
HCSD discusses cutting activities at board meeting
Hannibal (WSYR-TV) - Students, parents and staff in the Hannibal Central School District are fuming about the proposal to cut all sports, extra-curricular activities and arts education as a way to close a budget shortfall. A debate about the cuts was held Wednesday evening in front of a standing-room-only crowd.
The school district is facing a $1.7 million deficit this year, and even though these cuts will save about a million dollars, the district would still be left with an $800,000 gap.
Many parents were fighting for the programs they consider to be at the heart of the school experience. Vic Licatese says sporting events are central to the school's culture. "You go to a game on a Tuesday night, and the stands are full. And it's neat for me."
Kate Sullivan, a Junior and three-sport athlete agrees. If the proposed cuts go into effect, she would miss her senior seasons. "I love competing. It's so much fun. And if we don't have that, it's going to crush me and everyone."
As a district with one of the highest dropout rates in Central New York, some parents also felt that the lack of activities might turn kids away from school. "If you take that away, I can tell you right now, there are going to be a lot of kids not coming to school," one parent said.
Tuesday, the state released dropout rates for districts in CNY. That data revealed 20% of the students in Hannibal Central School District quit before they graduate. While some parents said they would be willing to pay anything to keep the situation from getting worse, School Board President Dale Young says taxpayers simply couldn't handle a huge increase. The district is the 7th poorest in the state. "This community cannot stand another tax increase," Young said.
Even after cutting activities and some staff members, Superintendent Michael DiFabio says the district will still need a 20% tax increase to cover the remaining deficit. "It's down to bare bones," he said.
Students protest proposed cuts of extracurricular activities
Hannibal (WSYR-TV) - Students from Hannibal School District Wednesday held a silent protest against the cancellation of extracurricular activities. The district says they are forced to cancel all the activities for the 2010-2011 school year, including sports, because of a budget deficit.
The Hannibal School District says they rely on state aid, including STAR, for 81% of their budget. With that aid cut, the district faces a $1.7-million deficit. Superintendent Michael DiFabio says in a district that relies so much on state aid, he was really left with no other option. "It's down to bare bones. There's nothing. Kids come in to get programmed to graduate and they leave," he said.
To protest the cancelation of extracurricular activities, students wore their school colors and carried signs in silence. Many had the letter X painted on their lips. They marched silently from the School District into the Town of Hannibal in support of all the programs on the chopping block. Their sports teams and student council are being cut, among other things, and some of their teachers are being taken out of the classroom.
"A letter went out to the teachers," explained student protester, and Hannibal High School Senior, Joe Shortslef. "We're not offending anyone. We're just trying - well, not to voice our opinion because we can't talk - but what we're willing to do about this."
School Board President Dale Young says he doesn't like cutting extracurricular activities, "If we expound or take away all that, where are they gonna go? Home and out on the streets. I don't like that. That's just not right."
Even after cutting staff and activities, Superintendent DiFabio says the district will still need to fill a deficit of $800,000. That means a 20% tax increase in Hannibal. Restoring all these cuts would mean a 35% increase and, he says, people in Hannibal just can't afford that.
Many of the students will break their silence Wednesday night at the School Board meeting, when they talk to board members.
State Senator Darrell Aubertine says he is reaching out to his colleagues in Albany to change the distribution formula for state aid, to make it more equitable for districts like Hannibal.
