New Rochelle School Board Adopts $231M Budget

The New Rochelle School District Board of Education adopted a $230,872,398 budget for 2011-12 Thursday.

That represents a 2.66 percent over the current budget, with a proposed tax rate increase of 4.5 percent.

Members of the board voted unanimously to adopt the budget.

Superintendent Richard Organisciak said the final numbers were due in no small part to the collective bargaining agreement reached with the Federation of United School Employees.

That agreement is "one that importantly helps to preserve positions that are critical to our district's continued success," he said.

FUSE members will not get a salary increase for the 2011-12 school year. For the second and third years of the agreement, union members will get a 2.1 percent and 2.6 percent increases, respectively, said Board President Sara Richmond.

Organisciak said the number of possible layoffs has been trimmed to 36 employees. He added that he and his staff will be "making every effort to achieve a continued reduction in these layoffs throughout the course of the year."

The district had faced about 100 job losses. Forty-six retirements and resignations had already been accepted.

Also factored into the budget are salary freezes for Organisciak, assistant superintendents and managerial and confidential unit members. The position of assistant superintendent for human resources will be replaced by a director of personnel due to a resignation.

The transportation budget was cut by $750,000, while still offering busing for private school students, an issue that brought scores of people to budget discussions.

"This has not been an easy process," Organisciak said, "but despite all of the challenges inherent in our cost-cutting efforts, we believe that we can present this budget to the board knowing full well that we have conducted a thorough examination of all aspects of our district's operation."

Richmond said the fact that the increase was kept so low was "a remarkable feat," especially due to the high retirement costs and unfunded mandates.

She said the agreement with FUSE will save the district over $2 million, and that will go toward the restoration of programs.

Trustee Mary Jane Reddington said this was the toughest budget process she has seen in her 18 years as a board member.

She thanked the community for its input and participation.

"With your support … we shall continue to help every student to fulfill his or her potential and to have a love of learning forever more," Reddington said.

The board will hold a public hearing on the budget at 7:30 p.m. May 3 at the New Rochelle High School.

Registered voters will approve or reject the budget, as well as vote for two board positions, May 17.