School buses on the chopping block as a South Country district balances budget
South Country School District has a budget meeting tonight after dealing with budget troubles since 2024.
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South Country School District had a budget meeting Wednesday night after dealing with budget troubles since 2024.
Hundreds of parents and teachers attended the South Country school board meeting Wednesday night to express their concerns over the budget cuts.
The superintendent proposed at least 55 staff cuts, including 43 teachers and five administration members for next year. This comes after more than 50 staff cuts for this school year plus extra mid-year staff reductions.
In 2024, South Country School District went $3.5 million over budget. Now, they’re trying to reduce costs, make more revenue and plan for next year’s budget.
The proposed budget for the 2026-2027 school year is $152 million—$5 million more than last school year due to increased costs.
Parents and teachers are worried about how this will affect students and where else the district will decide to cut corners to save some money.
“Finally, the community has figured out that their kids are going to suffer,” said teacher Matthew Kinigson. “Teachers are realizing you can’t keep going to the well and asking teachers to take the hit. Because there’s no more water in the well.”
Superintendent Antonio Santana says the district has to make up those deficits,
“I remain fully committed to the community to be transparent about the challenges before us,” Santana said. “And I’m working with the board of education and our entire school community to put the district back on a stable path moving forward.”
Another proposed cut would limit private school transportation to students who live within a 15-mile radius instead of a 25-mile radius. It would save the district $900,000 but would leave 121 students without a ride.
“What’s going to be cut if there’s an austerity program?” said Scott Munson, of Bellport. “The first things that are cut are what separates the good kids, the higher achieving kids, from all the other kids. The first thing that’s going to go is music, arts, things like that.”
The board has to adopt the proposed budget by April 22 and then they’ll have an official budget vote in May.
