Schools officials on Monday sketched out plans for making up the difference between what they wanted to spend next year and what they actually have to spend, faced with about $1.5 million less than requested in operations after a contentious budget season.
The district is looking at reducing by about $1 million what it had planned to spend in fiscal year 2014 by changing how some benefits are doled out, and using more reserves to fund expected medical claims. Specifically, Medicare-eligible retirees would be excluded from individual stop-loss coverage and the threshold for such coverage could be raised.
Another $600,000 in reduced spending from what the district originally had sought could come from operations. More than half of that would come from reductions to planned staffing. Positions that may not be added as hoped include a new custodian, technician and the equivalents of 4.5 teaching interns and 2.8 support staff members.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Kolek in setting up the discussion told those present at the Board of Education's meeting -- held in the NCHS Wagner Room -- that the talks are preliminary.
"Nothing is written in stone," Kolek said.
The talks follow a divisive budget process that saw the school board try to rally support from parents at public meetings.
In discussing the possibilities for FY14, Board of Education members talked about reducing monies dedicated to covering medical claims in such a way that such coverage would not be 100 percent guaranteed -- as it has in past years. The town would be on the hook for a shortfall, board members said -- a position that the town itself created, BOE Vice Chair Scott Gress said.
"It's clear that the town underfunded us by a certain amount," Gress said.
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