School District Closes Budget Gap

Facing a nearly $10 million budget gap for the 2013-14 school year, officials with the Half Hollow Hills School District are approximately 80 percent of the way to closing that hole.

Newsday reported that school district officials have cut $8.2 million from next school year’s draft budget. To reduce costs, the school district is proposing moving to an eight-period day from a nine-period day at its two middle schools, eliminating some assistant coaching positions and having students pay for driver’s education.

The reduction of one period at the middle schools would save the district about $3.7 million.

In January, school district officials floated the idea of closing schools in an effort to reduce expenditures. However, that proposal, which upset many community members, was quickly shot down.

While a majority of the budget gap has been closed, school officials still need to find an additional $1.5 million in cuts. This could include further program reductions, using more of the district’s reserves or possibly piercing the tax cap. The latter would require a supermajority vote of 60 percent from the school district community to approve a proposed budget.