School sports imperiled in S. Huntington

Middle school sports would be out in the South Huntington school district's proposed budget, as would three varsity high school teams and 62 jobs.

The proposed $140.3-million budget for 2011-12 represents a 1.36 percent increase from the current budget and carries the possibility of a 6.93 percent property-tax rate increase.

"Over the past several years where we have been able to cut out fat, we're now down to the bone, where we actually have to start cutting out programs," district spokesman Steve Bartholomew said.

Residents packed a budget workshop March 30 to voice their opinions. The proposed budget calls for the reduction of about 62 positions in various areas throughout the district, including 18 teachers, 30 paraprofessionals, four administrative staffers, eight custodians and two clerical workers.

Bartholomew said district officials are trying to confirm how deep expected cuts from state aid will be. He said leftover federal stimulus money from this year has been tentatively earmarked already.

Students will personally be impacted by the proposed reduction of the nine-period day at Walt Whitman High School, along with elimination of the high school video newsroom, junior varsity kick line and the bowling, golf and swim teams.

At the middle school, a reduction in the sports program would include the elimination of all athletics and the end to extracurricular activities such as the color guard, mathletes, the multicultural club and the school bookstore, among others.

As of last week's meeting, the administrators' union has agreed to a two-year salary freeze and additional contributions to their health care insurance. So far, the other unions -- for teachers and paraprofessionals -- have not yet agreed to givebacks.

Patricia Dell, co-president of the paraprofessional union, said based on a giveback the group gave last year and the minimum salary received by her union's members -- about $13,000 per year -- her union has decided against a pay freeze for next year.

Teachers union president Dennis Callahan could not be reached for comment.

"The children are the casualties of a broken system," said Doreen Boehme, PTA Council president.

The next school board meeting is April 13 at Stimson Middle School on Oakwood Road. The board will discuss and adopt the final budget, upon which the community will vote May 17.