No compromise reached on FY12 school budget

Date: 5/3/2011

May 4, 2011

By Debbie Gardner

Assistant Editor

AGAWAM — When the School Committee postponed its vote on April 26, there was a glimmer of hope the proposed $34 million school department budget for fiscal year 2012 (FY12) could be adjusted to prevent teacher layoffs.

In the end, the meeting extension made no difference.

Three days later, the School Committee voted to send the FY12 School Department budget to the City Council as it was originally presented.

The official vote was four members in favor, with School Committee members Shelley Reed, Diane Juzba and Kathleen Mouneimneh opposed.

The budget as passed reflects a total loss of 31.8 school department positions, including 13 vacancies created by retirements and positions that won't be filled. It also includes the first-ever fee structure for high school athletics, band and extra-curricular activities, and an increase in student parking rates.

According to Mayor Richard Cohen, the FY12 budget does represent a .8 percent increase in school spending over FY11.

The tumultuous Tuesday night meeting saw more than 25 parents voice opposition to the proposed budget during the public hearing portion of the evening, with several suggesting alternatives to boost school spending, including reducing trash pick-up to every other week and allocating the savings to the schools and increasing property taxes.

The committee also appeared clearly divided, with members Reed, Juzba and Mouneimneh indicating that they could not support the budget as presented. Their particular concern was the reduction of three teaching positions on the elementary level.

"I feel taking away teachers and making the classes 25 in the second grade is punishing kids," Reed said.

Just prior to the Tuesday vote, Agawam Education Association President Bob Janik approached School Superintendent Dr. Mary Czajkowski. She reported to the committee that Janik was willing to meet with the teachers one more time in a last-minute attempt to reach a compromise and save jobs.

A handshake between Czajkowski and Janik during a brief recess in the School Committee meeting seemed to indicate the potential for an agreement.

At the Friday meeting Czajkowski reported that she and Janik had met with members of the Agawam Education Association on both April 27 and 28, presenting "two separate memorandums of agreement which would have restored three teaching and five paraprofessional positions." She reported the association rejected the proposals — which included such measures as teachers covering for each other during lunch and appointments to reduce the need for paid substitutes — by a vote of 13 opposed, nine in favor and six abstaining.

"It's just really disappointing," Czajkowski said following the School Committee vote on Friday." We were hoping, with a compromise we could reach an agreement to restore [the teaching and paraprofessional] positions."

Cohen said it was "unfortunate the recent discussions we were unable to come up with the support and compromises that would have made the budget ... just a little less painful."

Prior to the vote, he also spoke at length about his frustration at the refusal of the town's many collective bargaining units, including the teachers, to forgo 1 percent raises outlined in their respective contracts for FY12 in light of the state cutbacks in local aid.

"When this budget is presented to the City Council for its approval in the final budget process, I will strongly support it and urge the council to not make any further cuts to this budget," Cohen said.