Lakeland Proposes to Cut Alternative High School in Latest Budget

Lakeland school board members met for the final time Thursday night to present their proposed budget for the 2011-12 school year. Because of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s sweeping state budget cuts, the Lakeland school district’s proposed 2011-12 budget would rise by 1.74 percent from last year’s budget, the smallest year-to-year increase in 11 years.

During the previous meeting, the preliminary numbers came in over budget and administrators had to go back to the drawing board. In order to keep property tax increase below 3 percent, the district needed to cut an additional $1.8 million. The final proposed budget of $157,235,514 would result in a 2.57 percent tax levy increase for school district residents.

Lakeland Alternative High School was among the programs cut in the latest version of the budget. The possible closing of the school was hotly debated at the previous session and once again dominated discussion at Thursday’s meeting.

Ken Hoch, a 30-year Lakeland resident, was disappointed with the board's decision. “I'm feeling like Don Quixote when he came upon those windmills,” said Hoch, who doesn't believe Fox Meadow, a BOCES school in Yorktown Heights, will provide the same level of instruction as the Alternative High School.

“I don't think our kids will be as successful, that's just my gut opinion. I don't see them in that environment having the same success,” Hoch said. “It's not something you can turn around and go back next year if you're wrong. You're gonna disrupt a whole lot of lives.”

The board voted unanimously in favor of closing the school and was adamant that the decision was being made in the best interest of the students and not strictly for budgetary reasons.

“Our philosophy was to try and trim across the board to programs that might duplicate services,” said Superintendent George Stone.“When the alternative school was brought to the table, we began asking ourselves, 'Can we provide these services at the same or higher level in a more economical way?'”

Stone and the rest of the board decided they could. “That school has been a jewel for this district,” said board member Scott Carey of the alternative school. “But having spent some time going over costs, graduation rates, what can be offered at LAHS itself and Fox Meadow, I truly believe we should have made this decision a few years ago. This would have been done the same way, whether we needed to save money or not.”

By closing the school, the district would save $400,000, according to the board. “While it will save money, this recommendation is being made in good conscience knowing these students will receive the same treatment,” said Stone.

Previously, Stone said he expected about 15 students would go to Fox Meadow, while about 10 to 15 would go back to the regular high school where administrative, instructional, social and emotional transitional support would be provided.

The district wanted to save as many jobs as possible, however, a number of staff positions will be eliminated, saving the district $1,174,000. Positions cut include one administrator, three elementary school teachers, six secondary and special education teaching positions, a school psychologist, and eight instructional aides and teacher’s assistants, and two custodial positions.

Other changes include:

• $25,000 cut from the debate program
• $27,000 cut from sports programs by eliminating duplicate programs
• $30,800 cut from superintendent and central administrators salary freeze and concessions
• $115,000 cut from the Universal Pre-K program

The final proposed budget will be put to a public vote on Tuesday, May 17, at the Van Cortlandtville Elementary School Gym. Residents don't have to register separately if they are already registered in Westchester County as a general election voter.

Three school board members are also up for re-election: Scott Carey, Glen Malia and Michael Cherchia.

The next board meeting is Thursday, April 28, 7:30 p.m. at the . There will be a budget hearing on May 3 at 7 p.m. at the administration building and a regular monthly May meeting on May 12 at . 

To view the 2011-12 proposed school budget, click here.