B-BP Schools Suggest $1.1 Million In Proposed Budget Reductions

Bayport-Blue Point School Board Thursday suggested $1.1 million in reductions to its proposed $65.9 million budget for the 2012-2013 school year.

According to the district’s calculations as of Jan. 23, the proposed budget for the upcoming school year totals $65,877,746. Superintendent Anthony Annunziato said there are no layoffs looming, and employees that won’t return in the fall were excessed through attrition.

The district is reconfiguring staff to cover positions left “open” through attrition; a retiring librarian will not be replaced for 2012-13.

“There will be no full-time librarian in each elementary school, the position has been split,” Annunziato said. “This has minimal impact, based on enrollment numbers." 

New York State has reduced the district’s general liability insurance, allow B-BP Schools to save $16,000 in 2012-13.

Among the suggested reductions were: elimination of non-custodial overtime, $19,210; balanced literacy training, $34,000; copy machines, $15,000; co-teaching professional development, $46,000; copy paper, $14,000, and travel and conference, $31,963, among other reductions.

District administration called upon department chairs to cut costs where they could. Athletic Director Tim Mullins and Music Director Paul Weber each cut $25,000 from their departments.

While the reductions weren’t drastic, some will undoubtedly be unhappy with the results. Weber told the board that school transportation to Saturday music festival rehearsals is one of the cuts, but transportation will still be available on Fridays.

“Parents have a hard time getting to the school by 3 p.m. to bring their child to rehearsal on Friday (work days),” Weber said.

Unfortunately, live accompaniment for the school musicals will also be cut, Weber noted, among other reductions. The administration and board noted the school’s “wonderful music department,” and, garnering applause from those at the budget meeting, then praised Weber and the high school thespians on their recent production of Carousel.

The budget process continues with a meeting on March 1 at 7:30 p.m. B-BP board’s next regular meeting will be held on Feb. 28.

Annunziato told the board and residents that cost-saving measures, although seemingly minor, do have consequences.

“One things we have to understand is that reductions are reductions and there are always implications,” he said.