Crossroads for Sullivan West

By KIMBERLY M. WEYANDT

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — It was in the formal setting of the auditorium on Thursday, March 17 that the Sullivan West school board presented the budget options that they knew many district residents would take personally. After months considering every option, reality has brought the decision down to a hypothetical crossroads. The board must choose between a 23.6 percent tax increase or an 18.82 percent increase that would demand the closing of two elementary school buildings. They will present their final decision at the April 7 board meeting.

Until this point, the board had presented the public with what District Superintendent Alan Derry referred to as a “pretend budget.” Using the budget from the current year, the board projected that without making any changes, the community would have faced a 37.2 percent tax increase next year.

“Obviously that is untenable,” said Derry, “but people needed to know what the taxes would be; they needed to understand our current fiscal status.”

With everyone in the know, the board began the tedious process of “getting lean.” A committee of community members was established, and after study they recommended redistricting students for a better teacher/student ratio and moving the junior high school to the high school building in Lake Huntington.

Fearing what a failed budget proposal could mean for the school, board members instructed Derry to explore a budget that would include 18-percent and 15-percent increase.

Sullivan West’s business administrator Tony Rexhouse presented the board and the public with the lowest tax increase at 18.8 percent, which would mean closing the Delaware Valley and Narrowsburg elementary schools, cutting 19 teaching positions, two administrators and five staffers. Class sizes in either scenario would increase by one or two students.

“Regardless of what the board does this year, we need to think about where it will leave us for next year, and next year’s budget,” said Derry.

Over an hour was dedicated to comment from 250 Sullivan West district residents who filled the auditorium.

“Whatever happens,” said Shannon Bailey, “remember it’s all about the kids, it’s about us. We are one district, at least on paper.”

“Something has to be done to take the pressure off the taxpayers,” said Duke Smith, a resident of Callicoon. “Sell those buildings if you have to, something’s got to be done, stop hitting the taxpayer.”

“We are always dipping into our pockets for everything else,” said Jeanne Leewe, “gas money, more cigarettes, let’s help tsunami victims, let’s help everybody but we don’t want to help our own school. It makes no sense to me.”

“Fewer teachers could lead to bigger control problems,” commented Terry Walker, a representative from the teachers union.

“I realize that there isn’t any decision that will please more than half of the people here,” said John Reggero, “but sometimes you have to roll up your sleeves and make the best of it, plan for the future.”

“We have a four million dollar debt and the highest paid superintendent in the county,” complained Tammy Kreznar, a senior at Sullivan West.

A teary eyed Regina Wagner, Sullivan West board member, was the first board member to speak.

“There is enough blame to go around,” she said. “Many mistakes have been made… But the finger pointing has to stop and the community needs to come together and talk about what we can do.

“I really think that if we don’t pull together everything we hoped and dreamed will be bashed,” she said.

“We need to think about the future, what kind of kids do we hope to have. What kind of community do we want to be?” said Shawn Bailey, Sullivan West board member. “We have an opportunity to shape what kind of district this is going to be.”