Why Proposed School Budget Cuts Would Hurt

The prospect of a school district with 2.5 fewer guidance counselors and 2.5 fewer librarians does not sit well with some members of the Port Washington community.

They made their sentiments known at a Board of Education meeting Wednesday evening at the  auditorium, where a big focus was the 2011-12 budget, on which voters will ultimately have their say at the polls on May 17.  

Adopted at the April 12 board meeting, the budget includes $130,861,023 in spending, which is a 2.96 percent increase over the current budget, with a tax levy increase of about 3.95 percent. Cutting the library and guidance counselor positions would save the district $497,090.

Yet despite those projected savings, community members unhappy about such cuts aired their concerns at the meeting.  

Trish Schmitt, a parent of a Weber student, spoke about her daughter, whose cat suffered a massive heart attack one evening, dying right in front of the family.

"My daughter was very upset over this horrible event, and had trouble focusing on much of anything else," Schmitt said.  

The difficult situation called for support, which the guidance counselors provided. "They were excellent in helping my daughter recover from the loss of her pet. I am very grateful for their devotion and compassion, and they simply can't be cut from the school."

Other parents spoke along the same lines, sharing personal stories of how the guidance counselors have helped their children overcome troubles.  Amy Luria Nissenbaum, using up her three minutes of allotted time at the microphone during community comments, waited for another turn at the podium to complete her point.  Another mother, a parent of a student, approached the podium with her son, who read a note to the board expressing his appreciation for the guidance counselors at his school.  

Suzanne Mody, a librarian from spoke with tears in her eyes about sadness and fear of the day the district will lose their staff members.

"We can't place athletics ahead of academics," Mody said. "I would rather hand children a book to read and learn from, then a ball to play with outside.  Maybe that sounds crazy, but education is simply the most important value worth saving here."

The board sat in silence at the community members had their say.

"We appreciate all of your input about the value of our guidance counselors, and there is not a person up here who wants to cut anyone from anything at our schools," said Superintendent Geoffrey N. Gordon.

He added, "Our country is in a recession that we are still not out of yet, and we have to do something to maintain the quality of education that we have worked so hard to build."