Revised New Rochelle School Budget Restores Private School Busing

Busing some private school New Rochelle students could continue in the 2011-12 school year if changes to the preliminary budget are approved.

At a budget review session Tuesday, New Rochelle Schools Superintendent Richard Organisciak said approximately $1,250,000 of the proposed elimination of private school transportation costs would be restored to the budget, though it would be contingent on the development of a plan to centralize the pickups and drop-offs with fewer vehicles.

Organisciak said he and the board have heard from every segment of the community .

"More than 120 individuals presented their ideas and concerns at our public budgetary forums," he said. "Hundreds more shared their opinions in the form of emails, written communications, telephone calls and face-to-face conversations."

Reacting to those ideas, Organisciak said, led to further changes to the preliminary budget, including:

• A salary freeze for the superintendent and assistant superintendents for 2011-12
• A salary freeze for managerial and confidential unit members for 2011-12
• The abolishment of the position of assistant superintendent for human resources upon the retirement of the current job holder and replacing it with a director's position—a savings of $50,000
• An increase of $3 for discounted Metro Cards—a savings of $80,000
• A reduction of more than $450,000 in supplies and maintenance
• Contract adjustments of existing agreements—saving about $115,000
• Refinancing serial bond interest saving $30,000

Organisciak said the salary freezes and other reductions would not change the expected spending increase of 2.04 percent or the total spending amount of $229,475,484.

The tax rate increase would likely remain an estimated 4.5 percent.

Under the revised preliminary budget, Organisciak's salary would not increase to $266,500, as originally proposed, from his current salary of $263,250.

Any further reductions made, Organisciak said, would be to try to trim the projected loss of about 100 positions.

"We are trying to avoid that 100 figure," he said. "The examination of position restoration is our next step."

To date, the district has received and accepted 46 retirements and resignations, including one assistant superintendent, three administrators, 23 teachers, four teacher assistants, one nurse, two school counselors and two psychologists.

Adam Egleberg has one child in the public school system and one in a private school.

He was concerned with the constant rise in school spending.

Egleberg said the board needs to put spending on a sustainable path.

"Tonight's proposal is a very good start, but you can do more," he said. "Cut the fat, not the meat."

Trustee Quay Watkins wanted to dispel an impression expressed during public comment that the busing issue was solved at the expense of job losses.

"That is the furthest from the case," she said, adding a meeting with members of the community affected by the busing elimination led to a compromise and a suggested resolution.

"The issue regarding positions is much more complicated," Watkins said, and will take more work.

"We were elected here for the purpose of ensuring that each and every child receives a good quality education," she said.