Ideas to Potentially Lower Herricks School Budget

Locals packed the board of education meeting room in the on Thursday trying to come up with ways to lower the budget and find some ways to save money.

said that "everything is on the table" as far as programs that could be changed or cut.

"Nothing's sacred and nothing's set to be cut," he said.

There was supposed to be a fireside chat including the HTA but it was postponed to an undetermined time due to illness.

In order to maintain existing contractual obligations, $3.2 million will be added to this year's budget to go toward salary increases and FICA.

Here were some of the ideas proposed for achieving some cost savings:

• Having some sort of pay-to-play model for afterschool activities such as plays and sports. Dr. Bierwirth responded that an independent group would need to receive this money for legal reasons.
• A few parents suggested ways to bring in additional advertising.
• Some parents suggested that the teachers union "would be heroes" if they opened up their contracts.
• One parent suggested having fewer secretaries and other administrative positions. Board President Christine Turner said that as people from these positions retire, they are not being replaced and other people assume those responsibilities.
• A parent suggested moving music lessons back a grade in the elementary schools.
• Someone suggested charging to be part of the language immersion program.
• Selling the Herricks Community Center. Parents wanted an idea of how much money could be achieved by doing this but some said selling into a down market and losing this real estate would not be helpful.

Parents asked for data on ideas that have already been mentioned such as shortening the kindergarten day or changing bus routes to see how much savings could be achieved through this. The board and Dr. Bierwirth said they would try to make this information available shortly.