First Community Meeting In Preparation for the 2013-2014 Budget The Half Hollow Hills Board of Education, Superintendent and Administrative Team are dedicated to providing the children residing within the Half Hollow Hills Central School District with an outstanding educational program. We are proud of and committed to the strong tradition of empowering our students to achieve. Additionally, we have a fiscal responsibility to all of our stakeholders to provide the programs needed to help our students succeed while maximizing efforts to help control costs. We encourage each and every community member to be involved in the District, and invite you to be part of our First Community Meeting in preparation for the 2013-2014 budget. At this meeting we will present a preliminary overview of the budget development process and discuss how to have your voice heard through an online survey. Enclosed you will find a budget survey guide which we hope will assist you in making informed decisions when you complete the survey.
Monday, January 7, 2013 7:00 p.m. High School East—The Eugene Orloff Auditorium 50 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills
Half Hollow Hills Central School District 2013 – 2014 Budget Survey Guide In order to assist you in the completion of the 2013 – 2014 Budget Survey the following guide provides a framework for the budget parameters and many of the survey items. This fourpage document includes a discussion of school closing scenarios and other programmatic descriptions and costs. Tax levy figures are preliminary estimates in advance of the Governor’s Budget and other final input items of the Property Tax Levy Cap formula. • Achieved Budget Efficiencies – during the past two years the District has been successful in reducing the budget through negotiations including a three year administrator salary freeze and a reduction in administrative positions totaling $1.5 million; a two year salary freeze for clerical personnel; and a one year salary freeze for substitute teachers and bus drivers. In addition, newly negotiated salary schedules for paraprofessionals, custodians and monitors have allowed the District to realize savings with each new hire.
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Necessary Budget Reductions for 2013 14 – as a result of the “2% Property Tax Levy Cap” and increasing costs, the District is facing a need to make approximately $9.5 million in budget reductions for the 2013 – 14 School Year or propose a tax levy increase of approximately 8.5% to maintain existing programs, requiring a super majority of at least 60% voter approval. Declining Enrollment – as a result of declining enrollment at the elementary level and students entering grade 7, the District is anticipating a reduction in staff resulting in a $2.1 million savings. School Chestnut Hill Forest Park Otsego Paumanok Signal Hill Sunquam Vanderbilt Total Elementary K‐5 Candlewood West Hollow Total Middle School 6‐8 High School East High School West Total High School 9‐12 Total District Enrollment K12
6/24/2011 Enrollment 566 521 607 678 609 610 559 4,150 1,083 1,468 2,551 1,764 1,417 3,181 9,882
6/22/2012 Enrollment 501 500 588 634 568 553 503 3,847 1,079 1,493 2,572 1,802 1,469 3,271 9,690
Current Enrollment 486 507 530 595 569 529 455 3,671 1,035 1,418 2,453 1,854 1,479 3,333 9,457
Projected 201314 Enrollment 468 474 490 563 577 509 422 3,503 967 1,321 2,288 1,879 1,458 3,337 9,128
Projected 201415 Enrollment 454 439 453 518 560 488 372 3,284 911 1,239 2,150 1,941 1,480 3,421 8,855
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Items Currently Planned to be Eliminated from the Budget – preliminary budget discussions have resulted in plans to eliminate Elementary Summer School ($250,000), Secondary Summer School ($90,000), and Elementary Health Teachers ($200,000).
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Use of Reserves – in developing the current 2012 ‐13 budget the District utilized $4.25 million of its reserves (an increase of $500,000 from the prior year). An additional $5.25 million of fund balance (an increase of $750,000 from the prior year) was also utilized in an effort to maintain this year’s programs and lower the tax levy.
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Remaining Budget Gap – based on the assumptions above the District faces a Budget Gap of $6,860,000 to stay within the property tax levy cap.
Facilities Scenarios – the combination of declining enrollment and budget considerations has brought the idea of closing a school to the process. Presently, no decision has been made to close a school. The anticipated $6,860,000 budget gap will require program reductions, increased use of District reserves, piercing the “2% tax levy cap”, or a combination of these three actions. No scenario would involve selling of the school building; efforts would be made to lease the building until such time as increased enrollment may require re‐opening. The descriptions below will help you to better understand the survey items related to school facilities. • The closing of Chestnut Hill Elementary School o o o o •
The closing of Candlewood Middle School o o o o
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Cost Savings of Approximately $3 million. Analysis of enrollment, student demographics, and building instructional space indicates that Candlewood Middle School would be closed given this scenario. New grade configurations: elementary K‐6 with average enrollment of 587 students in seven elementary schools; one middle school with grades 7‐8 and an enrollment of 1,607 students in 2013–14; and an enrollment of 1,398 in 2014‐15. Additional reductions and/or increased use of reserves required of $3,860,000 or a tax levy increase of 4.5‐5.5% requiring a super majority.
The closing of Half Hollow Hills High School West o o o o
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Cost Savings of Approximately $1 million. An analysis of enrollment, transportation patterns, and student demographics indicates that Chestnut Hill Elementary School would be closed given this scenario. Requires a partial re‐districting of students in the effected school including changes to middle school / high school feeder patterns. Results in an average elementary enrollment of 572 students in six elementary school buildings in 2013‐14. Additional reductions and/or increased use of reserves required of $5,860,000 or a tax levy increase of 5.5‐6.5% requiring a super majority.
Cost Savings of Approximately $5 million. Analysis of enrollment and building instructional space indicates that High School West would be closed given this scenario. The school building could then be repurposed as a middle school. New grade configurations: elementary K‐6 with average enrollment of 587 students; two grade 7‐9 middle schools with enrollments of 1,422 & 1,039 students. One high school grade 10‐12 with an enrollment of 2,483 students in 2013‐14; and an enrollment of 2,531 in 2014‐15. Additional reductions and/or increased use of reserves required of $1,860,000 or a tax levy increase of 3.3‐4.3% requiring a super majority.
The closing of Candlewood Middle School in 201415 o o o o
201314 Cost Savings of Approximately $1 million. Analysis of enrollment, transportation patterns, student demographics, and building instructional space indicates that Candlewood Middle School would be closed given this scenario. New grade configurations: elementary K‐6 with average enrollment of 587 students; two grade 7‐8 middle schools with enrollments of 937 at West Hollow and 670 at Candlewood for 2013‐14. In 2014 ‐15 the enrollment for one middle school at West Hollow will be 1,398. Additional reductions and/or increased use of reserves required of $5,860,000 or a tax levy increase of 5.5‐6.5% requiring a super majority.
The following pages include other items for consideration in the budget reduction process and descriptions: OTHER ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION Elementary School Programs $ 1,000,000
Reduce fullday kindergarten to halfday – currently there are 24 sections of kindergarten in the District; students attend a full‐day program.
Eliminate all elementary band, chorus and orchestra – currently there is band, chorus and orchestra $ 590,000 instruction provided at each elementary school for 1,561 students. The costs include the full‐time salaries of six teachers as well as stipends for before and after school rehearsals and concerts. Eliminate all elementary AHAP and enrichment programs – the AHAP program serves high achieving $ 500,000 students in grade 3 in a half‐day and grades 4 – 5 in a one‐day per week pullout program at Forest Park Elementary School for 110 students. Enrichment services all students in grades 2 – 5 in 10‐week cycles. $ 100,000
Eliminate nonmandated speech improvement services for elementary students – these services are provided weekly to 300 non‐special education elementary school children as a support service.
$ 30,000
Eliminate all elementary afterschool clubs and intramurals – these funds are for clubs at seven elementary schools including intramurals, Math Olympiads and student council.
$ 25,000 Hills on Stage – Fifth grade combined musical production. $ 55,000
Adaptive Intramural Sports Clinical Sports, Recreational Sports, and Adaptive Swim programs for students with disabilities.
$ 100,000
Close the Discovery Center ‐ located at the Fran Greenspan Administration Center, the Discovery Center (formerly known as the Shuttle Room) is a field trip destination for elementary school students.
Secondary School Programs $ 1,500,000
Change high school schedule to an eightperiod day – currently a nine‐period day is available to students in grades 9 – 12.
$ 1,500,000
Change middle school schedule to an eightperiod day – currently a nine‐period day is available to students in grades 6 ‐ 8. This would also limit the ability to continue “teaming” at the middle school.
Combine high school Junior Varsity and Varsity teams – currently there are 13 junior varsity teams and $ 600,000 23 varsity teams that are fielded at both High School East and High School West. In addition, there are a small number of combined East/West athletic teams.
$ 400,000
Eliminate all middle school athletic teams – there are currently 51 middle school athletic teams in the District.
$ 100,000 Reduce the number of middle school athletic teams $ 230,000
Eliminate drivers' education program both classroom and driving – the drivers’ education program is offered three periods per day at both high schools and also has a road experience at no cost to parents.
$ 220,000
Eliminate the HS academic research program – the research program is facilitated by one full‐time research director as well as various teaching periods at both high schools.
$ 200,000
Reduce two guidance counselor positions at secondary level – there are currently eight guidance counselors at the middle school level and nineteen guidance counselors at the high school level.
$ 150,000
Eliminate all middle school afterschool clubs – these funds are for clubs at both middle schools including intramurals, student government, and academic clubs.
$ 100,000
Close the Planetarium – the planetarium is located at High School East and is used as a field trip destination by our students across grade levels and academic disciplines.
$ 80,000
Eliminate all secondary level intramural sports – secondary intramurals includes supervised use of weight rooms as well as various sports during the course of the school year.
$ 90,000
Life Skills Work Study Program – the program provides vocational experiences both in the District and at various community job placements for students with disabilities.
Districtwide Programs
$ 325,000
Close the Natatorium ‐ the natatorium (pool facility) is a standalone building at High School West used for school swim teams, adaptive aquatics, and community use.
$ 200,000
Eliminate after school busing for clubs and sports as well as field trips‐ would require parent pick‐up for after school activities and sports.
$ 58,175
Eliminate public relations and graphic services – public relations coordinator assists in development of the District Calendar, Budget Mailings, etc…
$ 30,000
Eliminate district photographer position – photographer attends District events during the school day, evenings, and weekends, with photos used for publications, news releases, the website and yearbooks.