Oswego City School District Projects $1.6 Million Budget Shortfall For 2020-2021 Academic Year

By: Alexander Gault-Plate

OSWEGO – At today’s digital meeting of the Oswego City School Board, superintendent Dean Goewey shared the news that the district’s budget for the coming academic year is short by $1.6 million.

The rise in expenditures at the district has outpaced state aid increases, and with Gov. Andrew Cuomo signaling that school districts across the state will be seeing a significant drop in state funding this year, Goewey and his team are asking administrators from every district department to offer up programs to cut.  

“We’re doing what we’ve always typically done,” Goewey said. “We’re building a revenue-based budget that doesn’t artificially inflate our budget with cash, which would be just a band-aid on a multi-year issue.”

Vice President of the Board Kathleen Allen suggested that the budget may find significant savings from the district’s transportation department, as busses have sat idle with schools closed during the Covid-19 pandemic. She also asked Goewey to keep students in mind as he and his team shape the budget. 

“I’m asking you to keep these cuts as far away from students as possible,” Allen said. 

Goewey said that he asked district administrators to first cut the programs and services that have the least impact on students’ daily education but could not guarantee that students would not feel the squeeze.

“Any cut we make to our budget affects kids in some way, and $1.6 million is a hard number to keep away from our students,” Goewey said. 

Goewey said that the state will inform the district of its funding amounts on May 1, so any projections made now are only based on preliminary guidance being issued by the state Department of Education.

After sharing the budget update, Goewey informed the board that the district is moving into the third phase of their essential learning plan, which is the districts plan to offer services and education to students while schools are closed.

Goewey said that the third phase of the plan will revolve around offering new instruction to students via a suite of Google applications and tools, which will offer video of teachers instruction, digital and hard-copy assignments and evaluation, as well as office hours where students can speak with teachers one-on-one to get help. 

“It’s a delicate balance between providing educational opportunities, through enrichment and engagement with our kids, while also understanding the demands and the anxiety associated with parents trying to support learning without a teacher there with them,” Goewey said. “I think we’ve found a good balance.”

Goewey said that a guidance has already been offered to teachers and administrators on how this next step will work, and parents will be receiving information on Friday, with a robo-call, a letter and posted information on the district website. 

Goewey said that he still has concerns over how equitable the experience will be for students across economic lines. Some students in the Oswego area lack reliable internet, access to a computer or phone, or other issues that could prevent them from using the online resources. Goewey said that the district is working to ensure all students have access to the tools they need to learn and pass their classes. 

“None of this is intended to create hardships for parents and students,” Goewey said. “We’re trying to give every opportunity for students to pass.”

After a question from board member Samuel Tripp, Goewey said that when the state cancelled Regents exams for the year, the probability that school would be canceled for the remainder of the academic year went up significantly. Currently, the district is planning for a return before June, to be prepared if it does happen, but is also planning for the possibility that schools may stay closed for an extended period. 

As for graduation, Goewey said he is hopeful that graduation will be able to occur in person this year and is prepared to postpone it if need be. 

“I haven’t given up hope for the possibility of a physical graduation ceremony in June or August,” Goewey said. 

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