Springs School Faces More Cuts; Class Size a Worry

On Wednesday night, the Springs School Board's budget review landed with a thud, as administrators balanced the need for cuts while a packed house of parents and teachers voiced concerns over potentially growing class sizes.

During the second budget session of the 2015-16 school year, administrators again combed through the $28.1 million budget, an increase of nearly $1.5 million, or 5.5 percent, from this year's $26.6 million spending plan.

All told, to stay under the state-mandated 1.62-percent cap on tax levy increases, the proposed spending plan needs to be cut by $2.16 million. The proposed budget assumes the transfer, for the second year in a row, of $1.07 million from the district's fund balance to reduce the tax levy. To avoid piercing the cap, the district faces a 1.58-percent — or $380,000 — limit.

"Many schools are facing some very difficult decisions," said Elizabeth Mendelman, the board president, adding that last year's budget process was far less contentious, with the addition of eight full-time employees. "Many residents expect the district to stay under the cap."

On Wednesday, based on revised estimates, John Finello, the district superintendent, proposed more than $780,000 worth of cuts. Among the big-ticket reductions: four teachers, including one English as a second language teacher ($416,764), a decrease in East Hampton High School's regular and special education tuition ($167,598), a capital fund transfer ($100,000), and a decrease in Board of Cooperative Educational Services placements ($81,751).

The elimination of two special education teaching assistants, a reduction in the superintendent's salary, and the reduction of a full-time social worker to part-time hours amount to another $100,000 in savings. What's more, Mr. Finello mentioned the addition of a contingency position ($55,798), or teacher, who would be used to help alleviate growing class sizes.

"On Feb. 9, we had a gap of $1,086,768. Now, we have a tax levy gap of $298,147," Mr. Finello said. "That's where we are and the progress we've made. We're moving in the right direction, while maintaining the integrity of the educational program." Again, such figures assume the transfer of $1.07 million from the district's fund balance.

Administrators also examined projected enrollment, sections, and class sizes.

Come September, cost and space will continue to pose significant challenges, with enrollment now projected at 703 students in kindergarten to eighth grade -- an increase of nearly 20 students from this fall.

Currently, the Springs School has 22 sections in kindergarten to grade five, with an average class size of 21 students. At the meeting, administrators proposed moving to 21 sections, with an average of 22 students per class, while also budgeting for an additional section should enrollment predictions shift.

Still, some grades show high numbers of projected enrollments -- 24 students per class for first and second grade, and 25 students per class for fifth grade.

Eric Casale, the principal, discussed the benefits of an eight or nine-period day for students in grades six to eight, including the unveiling of a 1-to-1 Chromebook program, which pairs individual laptops with fourth and fifth-grade students

Later in the evening, during public comments, nearly a dozen parents and teachers said they were concerned about the reduction in sections and subsequent increase in class sizes -- with many wondering whether the school's already overcrowded conditions were to blame.

"For too many of them, all they get is what they get in the classroom," said Margaret Garsetti, who directs the school's English as a second language program. "With larger class sizes, it's a struggle to meet their needs."

"I urge you to think about what's in the kids' best interest," said Ilaine Bickley, a second grade teacher, who pointed out that classes starting with 25 students in September often grow larger as the year goes on. "I will still work hard and my students will do well, but the students aren't going to be as successful as they can be."

"The goal is to keep most of our classes under 25 students," affirmed Ms. Mendelman.

"It's a balancing act of moving forward with the budget process," said John Grant, a board member, shortly before the meeting was adjourned.

The board will convene a third and likely final budget review on March 9 at 7 p.m., when tuition, employee benefits, the projected budget, and the tax levy, among other items, will be tackled.

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An earlier version of this article mistakenly attributed Ilaine Bickley's statement about class sizes to Eileen Goldman.