CCS Cuts Staff, Program, Preparing To Work Will Less State Aid

Clinton, NY (WIBX) - Following massive cuts in state education funding, many area school districts are working to balance their budgets by adjusting, cutting and postponing projects.

Clinton Central Schools is one such district working with less money from the state--Approximately $851,000 less to be exact. Superintendent, Matt Riley says despite the difficulties, administrators will ensure a minimal impact. However, he says some cuts were unavoidable.

Riley said, "Unfortunately there were some areas that are going to see some change. One of those is the high school band director was not able to be retained." He says they were able to reconfigure the music department to allow the student body to still receive a rich education in music. Administrators also eliminated a part time guidance counselor's position in special education due to declining numbers however, Riley said, "But again, with real minimal impact upon student learning."

Project Lead The Way, a nationally recognized curriculum, is also in jeopardy due to the retirement of a science teacher who played a crucial role in the implementation of the program. "Though we could offer some of the sequence, we couldn't offer them all, and for that reason it looks like we're not going to be offering that for this coming year but we hope to bring it back in the future because it is an outstanding program that really is on-par with, in some ways, the AP programs," Riley said.

He said the state is working to fix its deficit problem, and schools have to be sensitive to the needs and circumstances of voters as well. "The reason school aid has been reduced is largely due to the financial crisis facing the state and nation, and that crisis comes down to people and the Clinton community also feels that." Riley says the district's mission is three-fold, "To be responsible to the educational mission, to be responsible to the voters and to be responsible to the mission and the voters in the future--not just for this coming year."

Clinton Central Schools is also improving its transportation system and Riley says it's thanks to a recent study from an outside entity that looked to make the system more efficient without decreasing service. He says administrators purchased a new software that tracks bus routes and helps outline the most efficient routes, a recommendation from the transportation study, that he says will help the school provide better bus service at a cheaper price. Overall, Riley says Clinton Central Schools will be "OK" despite the massive cut in state education aid.