Shotgun discovery, fiscal woes dominate schools meeting

A number of fronts collided at a contentious Board of Education meeting at Shubert School Oct. 12. One large group of parents was on hand to express their frustration about fiscal shortfalls, and another wanted to ask the board about rumors of school closings. These aggressive clusters of parents were further spurred when a third group emerged to question the district’s response to the discovery of an unloaded shotgun on Plaza Elementary School grounds.

The first topic was business, and the general shortage of funds dominated discussion. The primary issue is a projected $3 million-to-$4 million shortfall in the district’s revenue if the financial picture does not change.

“In the past year, Baldwin has lost over $4 million in state aid,” explained Superintendent Dr. James Mapes. “For us, this loss amounts to approximately 20 percent of our state aid. Levying the full allowable tax rate, 2.9 percent, will only generate about $120,000 in extra funds for 2012-13. We estimate that continuance of our current program, with no changes, would cost about $124 million for 2012-13.”

Measures proposed to close this gap include condensing classes, reducing programs, revamping facilities management and the possible closure of a school — cuts the board warned about during discussions before this year’s budget vote. Many parents at the meeting said they wanted the district to issue a concrete statement on where it would cut costs, but board trustees insisted they were still exploring options.

“A facilities-study task force has been formed to examine the current elementary capacity of the district’s buildings,” Mapes told the Herald. “They will be charged with finding savings and efficiencies in building usage. The task force has complete freedom to reach its own conclusions, so no information will be available until January.”

Asked about conjecture that specific schools — Milburn in particular, due to low enrollment numbers — were being eyed for closure, Mapes said, “The only thing that can be said with any certainty at this time is that all elementary facilities will be studied.”