By EMILIA TEASDALE
KINDERHOOK—At their regular meeting on March 4, Superintendent Marie Digirolamo told the Ichabod Crane Board of Education that the district is facing “staggering increases in our health insurance costs,” less state aid and an increase in student need while enrollment “steadily, slowly” declines.
District Business Manager Michael Brennan led the fourth budget presentation for the proposed 2025-2026 spending plan during the meeting. He said this presentation would normally have focused on just the instructional side of the budget, but now that they are dealing with a deficit due to insurance costs he would review the proposed budget as a whole.
The district is currently looking at about $53.8 million in appropriations and $50.7 million in revenues.
According to state aid numbers that came out in late January, the district’s overall aid package is down $247,000 (1.23%). Mr. Brennan pointed out that this is mostly in BOCES special education, transportation and building aid. He explained that the aid is expense-driven so since the district has less BOCES expenses, as well as transportation, they will receive less aid. He said the building aid is based on debt, and since “our debt has decreased” so has the aid.
Another place where aid is down is in the foundation aid line. The district was moved to a new category by the state based on wealth ratio and property values. The district appears wealthier which changes the formula for foundation aid, Mr. Brennan said.
So, overall state aid is currently just under $20 million. It is $20.1 million for the current school year.
He proposed things that can be removed and moved around in the budget for the next school year to reduce the deficit, including taking grant funds out of the general fund, paying for an electric bus only if the district receives a grant, and trimming funds from the initial budget proposals in the business office, transportation and maintenance.
He said after those cuts, the district would still have a $3.1 million deficit. Superintendent Digirolamo asked how much the health insurance had increased and Mr. Brennan said $1.9 million. That amount must be covered. “Your hands are tied, when you’re starting at a $1.9 million deficit,” he said of cuts.
He did point out that there are nine teachers retiring. So in a second round of cuts, he said they took into account not replacing retiring 4th and 5th grade teachers. That would mean going from six classes to five in those grades with about 25 students in each class. Mr. Brennan also said they would not replace a resigning literacy coach and move the math coach to a federal grant.
Also, there would be reductions in the IT and assistant superintendent budgets. A reduction of about $20,000 in replacing textbooks and reduction in supplies district-wide by 20% or $200,000 were also part of the proposal.
He also talked about cuts from summer school which the district had increased after the pandemic to deal with learning loss.
This would put the deficit at $2.1 million. Mr. Brennan said they are “cutting around programs.”
In the coming month, the district might see more state aid. Mr. Brennan said the state budget should be final around April 1. They could also use reserve funds, which they did when putting together the budget for this year. Mr. Brennan called that solution “not ideal,” saying it’s a one time fix. He said once you start using reserves, the funds go fast and “you have a hole in the budget when it’s gone.”
The district could go over the state tax cap but that needs to receive a super-majority from voters. Currently the allowed tax increase is 3.11%. “We have never exceeded the maximum allowable [increase],” he said of past budgets.
Before making a final budget, he said, the district will do a close review of all non-essential programming and review of all positions — instructional and non-instructional.
He also said that insurance rates could go down – the final rates are due at the end of March. In the past, he said, it has worked out in the district’s favor. But he stressed, “it’s not certain in uncertain times.”
Assistant Superintendent Lucas Christensen reviewed some of the academic programs as part of the budget presentation and he pointed out the programs that are federally funded including AIS (Academic Intervention Service) teachers, ENL (English as a New Language) programming and supports, and Special Education funding, also support for teachers, para-professionals, support staff, training and materials. He pointed these programs out to the board and public as the federal government talks about changes in the federal Department of Education. Mr. Christensen said the district is currently entitled to the funds but they do have to submit a plan for review. He told the board that a loss of these funds would impact the district.
“Fiscal uncertainty is real,” said Superintendent Digirolamo. If the federal funds are cut there may be a need for more aid from the state. She said that the AIS and ENL supports are “critical” to the district.
An anticipated budget presentation is set for April 8 with the board adopting the budget on April 22, both meetings will be at 7 p.m. in the high school library. There will be a budget hearing on May 6 and the final public vote and school board elections will be May 20 in the high school gym from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Mr. Brennan ended his report saying the district has “ways to go but we are getting closer to May 20.”
His presentation and all the budget information is at www.ichabodcrane.org
Also at the meeting:
*During the facilities report, Board President Matthew Nelson said the committee is looking at a possible capital project to upgrade the sports fields. The committee has been meeting with engineering firm CS Arch and Turner Construction. Mr. Nelson said they continue to refine for the plan and are hearing a report on synthetic turf field options at a future meeting. He also said they are “refining costs estimates” that are changing and would be affected by the tariffs. “Lots of moving pieces,” he said
*The board held a public hearing on the Smart Schools Bond Act. They plan to use the last of the funding, about $170,000, on interactive classroom displays
*The Crane Acting Troupe presented the poster for the current show, “Mary Poppins,” to High School Principal Craig Shull. Tickets are on sale now for the performances on March 20-22 at 7:30 p.m. in the high school. Tickets are $15 adults and $10 students/seniors (cash/check). The box office is open 6:30-8:30 p.m. weeknights in the High School auditorium lobby
*The board accepted the resignation and retirements of long time teachers Berit Erickson, Kim Palmer and Susan Jermain, and Teaching Assistant Victoria Dick.
The next regular meeting will be April 8 at 7 p.m. in the high school library.
To contact reporter Emilia Teasdale email eteasdale@columbiapaper.com
