BY THOMAS LUCKIE III

North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Concerned citizens packed Ogdensburg Free Academy’s Cafeteria B to near capacity as the Ogdensburg City School District Board of Education and administration reviewed proposed cuts to faculty, staff and student programming in the face of a nearly $4.5 million problem for the 2019-20 school year budget at Monday’s meeting.

While the board has collectively taken a hardline stance against cutting student programming when preparing proposed budgets in recent years, diminishing fund reserves, uncertainty regarding state aid, and rising special education expenses are creating a harsh new reality.

Initially faced with a budget shortfall of over $5.47 million, Superintendent Kevin Kendall stated that the district was able to create a savings of nearly one million dollars by simply not replacing outgoing district employees.

The cuts and reductions proposed to the board by district administration on Monday include 15 teachers, one administrator, several teaching assistants, a librarian, and various other staff positions.

Eight of the proposed teaching positions represent general elementary teachers as well as one elementary reading teacher, which would create an increase in class sizes, particularly at John F. Kennedy Elementary School.

“New students would be placed at Madill, regardless of where they live,” Kendall said.

Kennedy Grades 3-6 Principal Susan Jacobs stated that a manageable class typically does not exceed 24 students at the elementary level. The proposed cuts are projected to result in 27 students in sixth grade classes and 25 students in third grade classes at Kennedy next school year.

Library, music and physical education classes at Kennedy would likely balloon to over 30 students, according to Jacobs.

Some parents of elementary students expressed concern over their children losing access to specialized instruction in reading and math due to the proposed cuts.

“How is my son going to confidently read and perform simple math problems with increased class sizes?” said Keyley Halpin, who noted she is employed by the district as a school nurse but was speaking at the meeting as a parent.

Zach Amo stated his daughter has recently gained confidence and improved grades due to receiving one-on-one instruction at Kennedy.

“We need to keep these kids getting the help they deserve,” Amo said.

Several Ogdensburg Free Academy students and parents spoke out against the proposed loss of Advanced Placement courses, many of which allow students to potentially earn college credit and would be the byproduct of the district eliminating several secondary teacher positions.

Multiple students and parents wondered what courses the district expects eleventh graders currently enrolled in advanced placement courses to take in order to fill out their senior year schedules.

“Are we going to let them rot in three or four study halls next year?” asked Beth Bresett, who is an OFA parent and teacher employed by the district.

Outside of the classroom, OFA Junior Varsity athletics are the first item on the chopping block based on the ranked order of cuts proposed Monday. However, Kendall clarified that the board has the right to rearrange the order in which items are prioritized to be cut while continuing to draft a proposed budget.

Tamara Graveline, the mother of two boys in the district and Vice President of the OFA Block O Boosters, who provide financial support to sports programs, promised the organization would work to support JV athletics at the school.

“Sports motivates certain students and keeps them out of trouble. Block O started in 2011 to save modified programs and we will do what we can for JV programs,” Graveline said.

Ogdensburg Education Association President Robert Ladouceur repeated the mantra that “the impact on students will be huge” several times while speaking as a citizen during the meeting.

Ladouceur urged the board to consider a higher tax cap increase in the interest of students and to keep fighting by continuing to work with state representatives to potentially help narrow the budget gap.

At this point in time, the board has proposed a 2.5% tax levy increase to the administration. Board member Michael Tooley stated at a prior meeting that a higher increase would likely struggle to get voter approval in May.

“We will continue to to look for resources to potentially offset cuts,” Tooley said on Monday. He also commended the citizens who chose to speak at Monday’s meeting, particularly the students, and praised the overall civility of the discussion.

“People in Ogdensburg care. We care a lot. No one up here wants to make cuts,” added board member Lawrence Mitchell.

Mitchell also urged those in attendance to contact elected officials and share their stories.

Kendall offered thanks to everyone for choosing to support education.

“These proposed cuts were difficult to propose,” the superintendent said.

The annual school budget vote will take place on Tuesday, May 21.

Should the eventual proposed budget fail to be approved by voters, the school district will have the option to hold a second budget vote. Should the budget fail to pass two times, the board must then begin the process of adopting a contingency budget, which carries various restrictions.