Redbank Valley School Board, Community Come Together to Save Sports Programs

John Gerow

John Gerow

Published June 10, 2017 4:34 pm
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NEW BETHLEHEM, Pa (EYT) — In a meeting that can best be describe as positive, forward-looking, conciliatory, and collaborative, the Redbank Valley School Board, concerned parents, and community members collectively arrived at a solution to saving money on sports and keeping all current sports programs in place. Facing the reality of a potential budget deficit of $800,000, more than 75 parents, students and community members attended Friday evening’s meeting held in the school’s auditorium.

Following a long week of feedback from the community, school board members reconsidered their plan to eliminate baseball and softball as a cost saving method. A suggestion that originated organically among several residents, was to have all sports and the pay to participate activities raise a portion of their own funding outside of the district’s budget. During the work session prior to the meeting, member Dee Bell asked how many savings could be realized with this approach. President Shaffer said that potential savings could be as much as $55,000. Heath Copenhaver asked how last week’s projection of saving $25,000 had grown to $55,000. Shaffer explained that in the new plan, a portion of fixed costs and overhead were to be included in each sport’s budget increasing the savings and more realistically assigning and paying for those fixed costs. The motion to eliminate softball and baseball was amended to have each sport and some activities, raise 15% of their respective costs. When made during the meeting, the motion passed on an 8 to 1 vote, with Ann Kopnitsky casting the lone dissenting vote.

Several parents and community members addressed the board during the public comment session at the start of the meeting. Parent Kara Raybuck asked if the current deficit was caused in part by legal issues and settlements. She questioned if this is the case, why academics and sports should suffer from administrative issues. Mrs. Raybuck urged the board to be totally open, honest and transparent with the community about district finances and financial issues. She also pointed out that many Redbank students need access to the kinds of business and technology classes that are being considered for cutting. Mrs. Raybuck also suggested that future savings could be made by thinning out staff that does not have contact with students.

Rhonda McMillen Toth also addressed the Board in support of the baseball and softball programs, even after hearing the proposed alternative. She suggested to the Board that some numbers used in the cost analysis by the cost saving committee did not accurately reflect true costs of the sports. Ms. Toth questioned how baseball and softball could be the most expensive per student, seeing as how there are no facilities, facility cost and limited overhead involved. She also pointed out that it appeared that the cost saving committee had used initial spending requests from each sport and not the actual per sport spending, skewing the results. As 2015 – 2016 was the new uniform year for the diamond sports, their costs were abnormally high, compared to others. Factoring out the uniform costs, baseball comes in $290 less per student than the figure that was used. She pointed out that there were other numbers in the analysis that simply did not make sense and that more analysis was needed. A round of applause from the visitors greeted Ms. Toth’s suggestion that the board seek cooperation and collaboration with interested people and organizations in the community.

Former district Superintendent David Farley addressed the meeting as well. He said that 20 years ago the fund balance was nearly $20 million. At the present rate of spending, the fund balance could last another 40 years. Dr. Farley questioned if the fund balance was a crisis situation. He also pointed out that the Commonwealth covers the cost of busing and transportation. He asked the board to make sure they are not overpaying for busing. Farley also reminded the Board that there are many areas where spending can be made more effective.

Voting Results

The motion to cut Business Education classes passed on a 6 – 3 vote with Copenhaver, Kopnitsky, and Watson voting no.

The motion to cut Technology and Eduction classes passed 6 – 3, with the same no votes.

The motion for the administration to reassign staff passed by 7 to 2 with Glenn Watson and Ann Kopnitsky voting no.

The motion to have sports and pay to participate activities raise 15% of their respective costs passed on an 8 – 1, with Heath Copenhaver casting the only vote against. Actual dollar amounts for each sport and activity should be available at the regular school board meeting in July.

In a rare exchange with visitors prior to adjournment, Board members and visitors discussed the value of including the community in planning and decision-making. Board member Tina Kennemuth suggested that the Board find ways to improve the flow of information to the public and enhance communication. Dr. Shaffer said that maybe “we need to do more to educate the public about public education.”

Glenn Watson thanked the visitors for being there and for taking the time to contact him and other board members. Watson said that every one of the dozens of calls he received was respectful and professional and that he appreciated the effort that community members took to participate in the discussion.

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