HHH School District Adopts 2012-13 Budget

The Half Hollow Hills Board of Education approved its budget of $221,918,299 for the 2012-13 school year on Thursday at .

An early decision by the board to stay within the state’s new property tax levy limitations, forced the Half Hollow Hills School District to tighten its belt to a level unseen in the district in more than a decade. The 2012-13 spending plan is the lowest budget-to-budget increase the district has had in 15 years.

“The mandate shifted how we do business,” Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Facilities Anne Marie Marrone Caliendo said. “We had to look at everything equally and see what would impact students the least.”

The cost to have the same number of staff and programs in the district as it does this current year, would have cost taxpayers $15 million more than what they are currently paying, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Facilities Anne Marie Marrone Caliendo, said. In comparison, the tax levy increase in the adopted budget is $4,158,533.

Cuts include 35 teaching positions, 14 of which are being excessed due to lower elementary enrollment, and 26 other staff members. 

The board also agreed to . The estimated savings amounts to $1,260,000 between the 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years. Included in the agreement is a stipulation that . 

Other cuts include the printing of a district calendar, the combined middle school musical, a variety of BOCES programs and elementary level student supplies. Additional reductions will be seen in the district’s extracurricular activity clubs, the athletic department and the purchasing of textbooks and district equipment. 

In a fortunate turn of events, the district did receive an extra $900,000 in state aid funding, but legislation limits where the dollars can be spent.

The district will also mandate a "non-instructional" period at the high schools, which will result in a reduction in the number of sections for various electives within the family and consumer science and business departments, as well as at least two teaching positions across various academic departments.

At the end of the meeting, Joshua Shinbrot, a member of student government at Hills East, spoke eloquently to defend the employment of Dennis Murphy, a guidance counselor who will be cut due to budget constraints. Superintendent Kelly Fallon said that the loss of Murphy is unfortunate for the district, but the staffer is being let go because of  state mandates. She added that she hopes Murphy can be rehired in the future.

Starting Friday, the board of education will be leading budget hearings throughout the district. 

The budget and Board of Elections vote will take place on Tuesday, May 15 at