Sandwich Schools Fearing Cuts for Next School Year

March 30, 2010

While Sandwich schools should make it through this school year OK, cuts may be needed in the next school year.

Superintendent Rick Schmitt told the School Board this month that the district’s overall fund balances will allow it to sustain many of its current programs and services, but "right now it looks like we might have to cut back on staffing needs, supplies, capital outlay purchases and the grant-funded pre-kindergarten program for 2010-11 due to the projected shortfall of revenue at the state level."

The state right now is more than $620,000 behind on its payments to Sandwich schools, Schmitt said.

"The Sandwich School Board has been fiscally responsible and has positioned the district to weather the storm for a short while, but not for long," Schmitt sai d.

He said one teaching position for the fourth grade has been deleted next year because the student numbers have been dropping off. Rather than nine sections of fourth grade there will be eight sections with about 25 students in each class.

He also reported that the technology teacher at Sandwich Middle School is retiring and won’t be replaced.

"Fortunately, the board has planned well and been good stewards, but if the state does not get their own mess solved soon … Sandwich may have to experience the painful types of cut-backs in staffing and programs other school districts are faced with at this time," Schmitt said.