Batavia School Board approves tight budget

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BATAVIA – The Batavia School Board approved a $65 million budget Tuesday that includes cuts in everything from the number of new library books that will be purchased to holding off on districtwide technology improvements.

In addressing the board, Batavia Education Association Tony Malay said the association supported the budget as proposed.

"We appreciate the cuts that have been made are across the board," Malay said.

To help balance the budget, the school board asked the principals of each school to make a 25 percent cut in their remaining discretionary funds. Those cuts were in areas such as equipment repair, library books and staff development opportunities, said Kris Monn, assistant superintendent for finance and operations.

The budget for supplies districtwide is $2.9 million, down from $3.8 million last year. The district's technology budget also is being cut to $1.5 million, down from last year's $2 million budget.

"We are holding off on district network improvements that were scheduled," School Superintendent Jack Barshinger said.

The budget also includes cuts the district implemented in the spring, including cutting nine teachers. In addition, four administrators who resigned or retired were not replaced.

With the sluggish economy, the district has seen decreases in some revenue sources along with marginal increases in expenses. As it stands now, the budget has only a $8,000 surplus.

Batavia School Board President Ron Link said the state is $4 million behind in its payments to the school district.

"If we could get all the money back from the state, we would be in pretty good shape," Link said.

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