New Castle rocked in proposed budget

By PATRICK E. LITOWITZ
plitowitz@ncnewsonline.com

Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed budget would pound the New Castle Area School District with an “economic tsunami.”

Corbett presented a $27.3 billion spending plan Tuesday, which must be approved in the Republican-controlled General Assembly. While it represents an $866 million reduction from the previous year, public schools would receive $1 billion less in support, the Associated Press reported.

Superintendent George Gabriel said preliminary figures from the state show the district losing $3.3 million for the 2011-2012 school year. Approximately $40 million will be spent this school year.

“This will fundamentally change the way we deliver instruction,” he said. “We will no longer have relatively small class sizes.

“This is all going to have a negative impact. Ultimately, it’s going to hurt our kids.”

The district’s basic education funding would see a $2.3 million shortfall. Corbett declined to finance a special grant that pays for pre-kindergarten programs statewide. The monies provided approximately $871,000 for the Croton Pre-Kindergarten Center.

“We’re going to assess everything from pencils to staffing needs,” Gabriel said. “There’s going to be a comprehensive look at the needs of the district.”

He said the pre-kindergarten program and the $19 million early learning center would be included in that examination.

“It’s too soon to say anything about pay freezes or cutting X amount of teachers, but there is a reality that we are going to have to take some steps to make up for that money.”

Business manager Joseph Ambrosini said preparations from the district’s 2011-2012 budget have started. He expects it to be presented to the board and public in May.

“Every line item in the budget is going to be scrutinized,” he said.

Ambrosini noted that 65 to 75 percent of the district’s funding comes from state sources.

“The impact on a lower social-economic school district is going to be greater than those who rely on real estate taxes,” he said. “This (budget cut) is larger than anyone expected.

“There’s no question that the experiences my kids have had in the district with the programs and individualized attention is not going to be the same in the upcoming years.”

New Castle has a $12 million fund balance, $3 million of which is set aside for capital improvements. The administration and board will determine how those dollars will be applied.

The district’s tax rate has been 17.27 mills for the last eight years, Ambrosini said.

In his address, the governor called on public school employees to take a one-year pay freeze. He estimated the move could save $400 million.

New Castle has started negotiations with its teachers union, whose contract ends in June. The district reached agreements last year with its secretary and custodial workers. However, their health care benefits are tied to the teachers’ contract.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)