More Cuts to Come for M-E

1/10/2013 (Updated 11:04:09 PM)

No more kindergarten or after school sports, one option to solve the budget deficit in the Main-Endwell School District.

"We have a $3.8 million deficit we have to address.  We literally have no other options," says Jason Van Fossen, Superintendent of Schools. 

Desperate to solve a 3.8 million dollar deficit, Superintendent Jason Van Fossen presented two options at the Board of Education meeting Thursday evening.

One option eliminates sports, saving over $400,000 and kindergarten, saving half a million dollars.  This just one day after Governor Cuomo encouraged instituting full day Pre-K. 

However Van Fossen says school districts are not required to have programs for children between ages four and six but he would like to see it stay in the school system. 

The other option is to cut about 35 instructional positions and 18 supportive services positions, saving the district over $3,500,000. 

Just last year, four instructional positions were also cut.

"So you take 36 and 14 over a two year period and we keep saying we don't want to impact kids, it's almost impossible if not impossible ito say that with a straight face when you go down almost 50 positions," says Van Fossen.

If passed, this proposal would increase class sizes, decrease music offerings for grades 4-8 and leave high school students with fewer electives.

"What we're going to see is students graduation with closer to 22 credits versus 28, 27, 26," says Van Fossen.

But for one teacher-- a larger class size wont stop her from doing her job.

"Will it be a struggle, probably.  Will it take more personal dedication and attention to reach one of those students, absolutely.  But, I became a teacher because I wanted to teach and if they're going to give me larger class sizes, I'm still going to teach," says Shannon Dawson.

The board will continue to discuss these two proposals.  They will have to identify specific positions they will cut by March 14.
Ali Warner Fox 40 HD News.