Island Education Leaders Fear Budget Cut Layoffs

By CHRIS BURRELL

Bracing for the possibility of even deeper cuts to state aid for
schools, Island school leaders now say they must consider laying off
teachers and trimming both academic and extra-curricular programs.

The dire forecast came this week in reaction to Gov. Mitt
Romney's proposed budget, which included significant cutbacks to
the Vineyard's two regional school districts - up-Island and
the high school.

All told, the governor's proposal would reduce aid to the two
districts by some 27 per cent, falling from roughly $2.9 million to $2.1
million.

Transportation aid would be slashed in half - a loss of
$300,000 in anticipated revenue - if Governor Romney's
proposal is approved by the legislature, according to Vineyard schools
superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash.

Mr. Cash expressed shock at the latest budget proposal, noting that
Governor Romney was promising as recently as last month not to reduce
school aid by more than 10 per cent.

Now, principals and school committees are scrambling to come up with
budgets to deal with the worst-case scenario, and it will inevitably
mean layoffs of staff.

"Unless the House and Senate do something different,
that's what it will be," said Mr. Cash.

Regional high school principal Peg Regan told the Gazette this week,
"We'd have to cut personnel and not just a couple people.
Almost every program would be touched. It would mean bigger class sizes
and fewer electives."

It could also mean that the high school would have to institute a
fee-based system for extra-curricular and athletic activities and
possibly cut some of those programs.

While no one can say what programs or academic programs might face
cutbacks, Mr. Cash explained that union rules would mandate using
seniority as the main criterion for laying off teachers.

"We're just going to inform everybody how desperate this
looks," said Mrs. Regan. "We have to be realistic."

The teachers' union contract requires that staff members
slated to be laid off must be notified between May 15 and June 15.

But it's unclear whether the state legislature will have
passed a budget by then as it struggles to deal with falling revenues
and a growing deficit.

"Let me pretty blunt, it's a mess," Cape and
Islands Sen. Robert O'Leary told the Gazette this week.

Senator O'Leary explained that Governor Romney has not only
proposed severe cuts to education but has also changed the way funds
will be distributed. In the past, state education aid, known as Chapter
70, went directly to the regional schools.

Now, the governor is proposing funneling money to the towns and
leaving the decision up to town leaders whether to earmark the money for
regional school budgets.

"There's no guarantee or requirement that the town will
move that money to the regional school districts," said the
senator. "It creates a level of uncertainty whether the schools
will get it and how much is there."

Senator O'Leary said it appears the governor is trying to
shift more of the burden for education cost back onto the local
communities. Meanwhile, the towns are sure to face their own round of
cuts in state aid.

As selectmen and finance committees in the Island's six towns
try to craft a budget for next year, they are becoming increasingly
anxious how they can fund public services without asking for overrides
of Proposition 2 1/2.

"The finance committee is trying hard to put together
something so we don't have to go out for an override," said
Oak Bluffs finance committee chairman John Lolley. "But these
things keep popping up."