Sachem school budget cuts 80 teachers

Sachem will ask residents for a 4.49 percent school tax increase and will likely lose some 80 teachers under a proposed budget, officials said Thursday.

The plan calls for the district to cut its middle school sports program in half and reduce its budget for clubs by 50 percent.

If voters approve the measure on May 17, Brookhaven residents living within Sachem's borders would see their school taxes jump $265, while Islip homeowners would pay an $224 more. Smithtown residents would fork over an extra $297.

School officials say Sachem has been fiscally responsible, citing no tax increases in 2007 and 2008, a 0.3 percent bump on 2009-10 and a 0.9 percent increase for this school year.

The district had a $282-million budget in 2010-11. It is proposing a $287.8-million budget next school year, representing a 2 percent increase.

"I think it is a very responsible budget and I think the community realizes that," board member Sal Tripi said.

But one frequent critic, Fred Gorman, chairman of the Sachem Community Watch, said he will not support the plan because "the district had been overcharging taxpayers for years," adding Sachem has "threatened my neighbors with cuts they have no intention of making."

Teachers' union head John Heslin said Sachem told 93 teachers they could lose their jobs, though he thinks the final number will be in the 70s or 80s.

Heslin said more than a third of teacher cuts would be at the elementary level, with resulting class sizes expected to jump from 22 to 26 or 27. Most teachers targeted for layoffs are in their late 20s and earn $50,000 to $60,000, he said.

"Every person had a personal interview, one at a time with me and the personnel director to explain what happened, how it works, what the procedures are, how to file for unemployment and potentials for next year," Heslin said. "It was heart-wrenching."

If voters reject the proposed budget, Sachem -- which serves more than 14,800 students -- will enact a $285 million contingency plan. Heslin said that would freeze capital spending and transportation, wipe out the music program, middle school sports and extracurriculars, and cause more staff cuts.