To the Editor:
On May 7, only myself and three other Berne-Knox-Westerlo Central School District residents attended the school board’s budget hearing. I urged many others to attend.

However, all said, no, that it was a waste of time. Nobody would listen. I vehemently disagreed only to discover I was wrong; they were right! …

Just two days later, I received the district newsletter in the mail, confirming what I had begun to suspect — that the budget was a done deal. It is my hope that the board will take another look at the proposed budget and make appropriate revisions

 If not, for the first time in 64 years, I will be voting no on the school budget and urge you to do the same.

The text of what I shared with the board at the hearing follows.

First, Thank you to Dr. [Timothy] Mundell for writing such an informative letter to The Enterprise [“We appreciate ongoing support as we have revitalized our school system,” May 2, 2024]. Unfortunately, many people in our district still cannot access the internet so letters like yours become very important.

For old timers, such as myself, just sitting in this room helps us to realize the number of major structural improvements which have been made. Once again, I compliment you for creating a technology program second to none.

However, we need to face some harsh realities. Spending has gone up while enrollment has gone down and most likely will continue to do so. Last year, the Census Bureau put per pupil spending nationwide at about $14,000. BKW spent about $28,000 per pupil.

Our district is facing a fiscal cliff! The board is proposing a budget with a 5.1-percent tax increase to a community where 32 percent of BKW students are considered by the state controller as economically disadvantaged as compared to 12 percent of Voorheesville students.

We just cannot afford the board’s budget proposal. Many of our residents are struggling to put food on the table and gas in the car. This proposal could well be the straw that breaks the camel’s back! 

What to do? The administration and board need to search out creative solutions. For example, some rural schools are creating dual role administrative positions. The superintendent often serves simultaneously as principal.

Principals might also take over responsibilities currently done by such positions as dean of students or take responsibility for special-education scheduling and/or staff observations.

Many elementary classes have just three sections with only 12 to 15 students per section and a full-time teacher and teacher’s aid in each section. A hard look must be taken at staff reductions.

None of us want to see valued staff members lose their jobs. Sadly, desperate times require desperate measures. Board members have the difficult job of addressing students’ needs while keeping BKW on track financially.

Helen Marie Lounsbury

Berne

Editor’s note: Helen Marie Lounsbury is a retired Berne-Knox-Westerlo teacher and a former long-time BKW School Board member.

See related letter from BKW Superintendent Timothy Mundell, responding to similar Facebook posts.