Students Speak Out on Elwood Budget Cuts; Superintendent Takes Salary Freeze

For the second time in a week, the auditorium at Elwood Middle School was full of people waiting to express their opinion on Elwood’s $52,089,217 budget, which calls for massive cuts to achieve a 3.75% tax levy.

But unlike the March 10 budget workshop, during which parents turned out in droves to vent their frustration and anger, the March 17 meeting was remarkable for the hundreds of students and alumni wearing red Elwood shirts who came to have their voices heard.

Their comments ranged from humorous to poignant, practical to downright eloquent. Alicia Sciascia, an alumnus of John Glenn High School, received applause for her suggestions on how to cut $1.5 million dollars from the budget. She suggested charging each student in the district a “tuition” of $360 to raise $900,000 – enough to save the athletic programs. She also suggested cutting Home Economics and Home Careers – courses which she felt could be learned outside of the classroom – rather than cutting Math, Science, and Technology. And she suggested packing the buses to save on transportation costs. Sciascia, who admitted she was a drug-user in high school, spoke movingly about how extra-curricular activities had saved her life and ended with a plea: “Save the children who don’t know they need saving yet.”

Student John Badlato used humor to drive home his point. Speaking about the values of the music department, which he said helped him cope with being bullied, Badlato suggested that eliminating the music programs might make students turn to drugs. Badlato drew laughs and an appreciative round of applause when he noted that in that scenario, “Elwood would become known as ‘El-Weed.’”

Some students spoke on behalf of those who couldn’t attend the meeting. Student Alex Jenks read a letter from his mother Debra, in which she urged the community to pull together, reminding them of previous challenges and achivements such as the building of .

Student Michael Hissy echoed the sentiments of parents who had spoken at the March 10 workshop.  “If we can’t fund these programs, I will have no choice but to leave.” His father Mark was on hand, and urged the community to inundate the board with any and all suggestions. “I would urge you all to mobilize and get the job done.”

After the first public comments session had ended, Superintendent Peter Scordo announced that he would be taking a salary freeze in 2011-12. According to Elwood’s website, Scordo’s salary is $256,130 plus $10,698 in benefits, which includes FICA, Medicare, Social Security and Long Term Disability.

Scordo also announced that Sharon McCabe, Principal of James H. Boyd Intermediate School, will be retiring in June. Board members gave McCabe a standing round of applause.

Scordo then turned to two key points on the evening’s agenda: determining high school staff and the configuration of the kindergarten program for 2011-2012. With regard to staffing at the high school, Scordo announced that he had given Principal Vincent Mulieri a couple of additional weeks to sort out course selections, even as he admitted to some concern about meeting a June 1 deadline for mailing students’ schedules.

Scordo then turned to the board for their thoughts on reducing kindergarten from a full day program to a half day without lunch. Both board President Michael Kaszubski and Vice President Joseph Fusaro asked if reductions in state aid were final. Assistant Superintendent for Business Bill Pastore said that state aid is frozen at 2008-2009 levels, The Nand Assembly have voted on enhancements to the budget but Pastore said he didn’t have those details yet and wasn’t sure how much additional funding the district might receive.

Trustee Dan Ciccone offered an alternative solution to cutting four kindergarten teachers from the current eight sections.  He proposed adding in a fifth teacher to bring down class size, and adding a reading teacher who would work with students on a rotating A and B day schedule. Scordo said he would put together some numbers.

Trustee Patricia Matos suggesting looking at the Kinderskills program which she conceded would be expensive at first. Trustee Andrew Kaplan agreed that some sort of enrichment program options should be explored.

In the second public session which followed, resident Lisa Abrams, a mother of eight children, asked if the costs involved in extended kindergarten had been explored. Scordo said no. Abrams expressed concern that the needs of special ed students wouldn’t be met in a two and a half hour day, which would be disruptive, and Dianne Wilkinson, Director of Special Education agreed.

Another resident, Brendan Murphy, asked about a “pay-for-play” policy, which had been discussed at the March 10 budget workshop. At that meeting, Pastore had explained that donated money would be deposited into the general fund, with the Board of Education determining in a fair and equitable manner how the money should be split between male and female sports.

Ciccone said that he and Scordo would be meeting with R-Northport, about mandates and would ask for clarification on how to handle such revenues.

The next budget workshop will take place on Saturday, March 26 at 11:30 AM in the library. Preceding that workshop, there will be a Joint Legislative Breakfast with Harborfields School District officials beginning at 8:15 at the Washington Drive Primary School in Centerport.