District looks at budget restraint

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March 15, 2010

Grant is received to study merger with Barker

By Holly Toal<br><a href="mailto:holly.toal@journal-register.com">E-mail Holly</a> The Journal-Register Mon Mar 15, 2010, 02:17 AM EDT

LYNDONVILLE — Residents who live within the Lyndonville Central School District and members of the Board of Education were presented with a budget progress report Monday night, in which budgeting challenges and plans were outlined.

Superintendent Barbara Deane-Williams said the district has prepared itself to be able to balance budget reductions and still be able to keep morale high and balance the needs of students.

All school districts in the state are facing a significant decrease in state aid and stimulus funding, while at the same time seeing increases in health insurance and pension contributions.

Key cost areas for Lyndonville include continuing negotiations regarding health insurance contributions for employees; focusing on a reduction in energy consumption by looking to reduce or consolidate bus runs; reducing the district’s reliance on paper and using technology to improve energy-efficiency; and looking into sharing services with a neighboring district.

The Lyndonville and Barker (Niagara County) school districts learned recently that they have been awarded $36,000 for a merger feasibility study between the districts, which would allow them to share some members of the support staff, share transportation services and increase the availability of programs for students.

Barker Superintendent Dr. Roger Klatt said: “The concept of a merger between the Barker and Lyndonville central school districts is a viable option that may result in potential savings to the taxpayers, increased opportunities for students, management improvements and benefits to the communities.”

The grant is part of $11.5 million that was authorized in the 2009-10 state budget for grants for shared services and consolidation.

“It’s important to maintain a balanced approach to education,” Deane-Williams said Monday. She later explained that the district will manage the reduction in budget revenue through attrition, meaning that as people retire or leave the district, those positions will not be filled.

“We will be attempting to use existing staff to meet the needs of children,” she said.

May 1 is the district’s target date to get a budget document out to the public, with a budget hearing to follow and a public vote set for May 18.

Contact editor Holly Toal at 798-1400, ext. 8225.

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