Interim Chappaqua Schools Superintendent Calls for Job Cuts
Chappaqua Interim Superintendent of Schools John Chambers said his proposed 2011-12 budget, which will be unveiled on Feb. 15, will include layoffs as a way to hold down spending next year.
But Chambers added at the Jan. 11 board of education meeting that administrators have been meeting with the district’s teachers union on potential givebacks that could prevent some jobs cuts.
Without spending reductions, next year’s budget would be $116.2 million, which would represent a 6.6 percent expenditure hike, Assistant Superintendent for Business John Chow said. During his administration’s “Budget Preview Part II,” which included a listing of potential cost-savings in the non-instruction portion of next year’s spending plan, Chambers said the equivalent of 13-16 full-time non-instructional positions should be eliminated next year. Chambers also said his budget plan would include layoffs in the instructional staff, but he currently did not know how many jobs would be lost.
Chambers said the Chappaqua Congress of Teachers union is in discussions with the district about potential givebacks. The teachers’ union will be in the final year of its four-year contract in 2011-12.
School Board President Janet Benton said creating next year’s budget would be difficult. “It’s not going to be an easy process,” she said.
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