Heavy Lifting: T/E School Board Works to Balance 2010-11 Budget

Much attention has been focused lately on the Tredyffrin Board of Supervisors' decision making: belt-tightening by $3 million in the 2010 budget, cuts to fire companies and libraries, and special consideration for St. Davids Golf Club. Plenty of drama, ambition and political posturing, with no shortage of vocal opposition from citizens.

Meanwhile, the School Board has been doing the heavy lifting.

Tredyffrin/Easttown school directors and administrators have been wrestling quietly with a huge $9.25 Million budget deficit for the 2010-11 school year. They have been working methodically to evaluate options to close this gap through a combination of higher taxes, program and service cuts, and the use of reserve funds.

Setting Limits

For Tredyffrin and Easttown taxpayers, the school tax represents the largest chunk of their real estate tax bills. Although township residents have expressed an appreciation for the quality of education our district provides, many are opposed to any tax increase at this time. Almost 80% have no children currently attending T/E schools.

On January 27 the School Board unanimously passed a preliminary budget and voted to limit any tax increase to the Act 1 limit of 2.9%, or $2.4 million in additional revenue. Board members Karen Cruickshank, Kevin Buraks and Pete Motel had favored applying to the State Department of Education for exceptions to Act 1, as a safety valve, to allow for the possibility of a larger tax increase to cover the deficit, if needed. However, they were opposed by Mr. Mahoney, Mrs. Fadem, Mr. Bruce, Mr. Brake, Mrs. Bookstaber and Mrs. Crowley, who supported working within the limits of the tax hike allowed under Act 1. This leaves the board in a tight corner, a remaining budget gap of $6.85 Million to be reduced by a combination of spending cuts and use of district reserves.

Much attention has been focused lately on the Tredyffrin Board of Supervisors' decision making: belt-tightening by $3 million in the 2010 budget, cuts to fire companies and libraries, and special consideration for St. Davids Golf Club. Plenty of drama, ambition and political posturing, with no shortage of vocal opposition from citizens.

Cost-Cutting Strategies

More than a tax hike is at stake, as budgets impact curriculum, staffing and learning resources. The main cause of this shortfall is a $5 million increase in employee health benefits, plus the District’s contribution to the state retirement system. As a concerned citizen, you have several opportunities to observe and weigh in on this work.

TESD’s Finance Committee will meet on Monday, March 8 to continue its discussion of cost-cutting strategies for the 2010-11 budget. This public meeting, to be held in the Conestoga High School cafeteria at 7:30 p.m, will cover additional program, service and financial cuts under consideration. Go to www.tesd.net for a complete draft of proposed strategies.

Community interest has been growing. Over 200 people attended the February 8 meeting of the Finance Committee, many sharing their concerns about proposed changes to the 7th-8th grade programs.

Eleven cost-cutting strategies were discussed in some detail that evening, including:
  • Restructuring of the 7th- and 8th grade program delivery
  • Eliminating the foreign languages in elementary school program
  • Restructuring the middle school special area classes
  • Reducing the number of educational aides
  • Eliminating CHS classes with fewer than 15 students
  • Reducing the District’s contribution to club sports, and
  • Reducing budget requests to the 2008-9 levels.
A Budget Workshop also is scheduled for March 15 as the School Board continues to work toward achieving a balanced budget that is fair to all stakeholders. The full Board plans to vote on the amended preliminary budget at the May 10 regular school board meeting. Final approval is scheduled for June 14, the last regular meeting of the 2009-10 school year.

Factor these dates into your calendar. We will continue to report on the school budget process.