BCSD Together - Schools, Teachers and the Community United We are residents of the Bedford
Central School District and understand that our district is facing a budget gap
of approximately $8 million for the upcoming 2016-2017 school year.
We are extremely concerned
about the proposed program cuts and will not allow the administration, nor the
Board of Education to sacrifice the education of our children, lessen their
college prospects or decimate the reputation of our district. It is unacceptable
to cut any program that would directly impact students. However, if increases
in employee compensation continue to outpace the capped revenue imposed upon us
by NY State, there will be no other alternative. We expect the
administration and Board of Education to conduct earnest negotiations with the
Bedford Teachers Association and other unions, resulting in a meaningful
reduction of the nearly 80% of our budget (salaries, pensions and benefits)
that continues to grow at a rate beyond the allowable tax cap.
If expenditure cuts are limited
to efficiencies and reductions in administrative staff, and will not diminish
the quality of education provided in our schools, the undersigned can support
increasing taxes, even to the maximum cap provided by law (and possibly
overriding such cap). In addition, we expect union negotiations will
yield reductions that will keep tax increases to a minimum. All parties
must give a little to find a solution that is best for our children, the
schools and our community as a whole.
Sign the Petition! |