Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Columbia BOE confronts another $250,000 budget cut demand; staffing and programs at risk
Summary
Facing a FiPAC directive to cut an additional $250,000, Columbia BOE members outlined possible staff reductions, furlough days, expanded pay-to-play for sports, and elimination or scaling back of programs including STEM and preschool if the cuts hold.
Board and administrative leaders warned that an additional requested $250,000 reduction from FiPAC would force more staffing and program cuts at Columbia schools.
Superintendent Barbara Wilson reviewed prior reductions and said the district has already eliminated a special education teacher, a paraeducator, a middle school teacher, an elementary teacher and STEM offerings in earlier cuts. She said ‘‘if FiPAC continues to require them to generate $250,000’’ the next options would involve staff furloughs and reductions in technology, professional development and extracurricular supports.
Board members discussed specific savings options. A single furlough day for certified and noncertified staff was estimated to save about $35,000; professional development (about $31,000) and sports ($61,000) were presented as lines that could be reduced. Superintendent Wilson said pay-to-play is currently projected at $100 per player per season and has produced about $22,200; doubling that fee was suggested but members noted waiver mechanisms would be needed so low-income students are not excluded. The superintendent also said preschool costs are roughly $111,000 and could be a target for reductions but cautioned about the program’s role in special education supports.
Several board members stressed limits to options: insurance changes affecting teacher health coverage would require town-level agreement and present legal/operational constraints, and the business manager said certain remaining funds cannot legally be used to offset next-year budgets. Members repeatedly said they wish to avoid cutting core instruction or early-childhood programs but acknowledged they have few remaining non-staff reductions to propose.
Public commenters at the meeting urged the board to seek grants for PFAS remediation, keep preschool intact, and avoid eliminating paraprofessionals and coaches. The board scheduled continued deliberations and a follow-up meeting with FiPAC involvement.
