Archive: News

With budget cuts still under discussion the Ithaca School District needs to cut $8 to $10 million, but only a few speakers appeared at the April 13 Ithaca City School Board Meeting.  Although the board has recommended that cuts on the music program not be made, several people expressed concern about that issue.  Many of the comments underlined communications problems.

Martha Frommelt of the district's Fine Arts Booster Group noted that “the budget issues have not been fully discussed or understood.”  She noted that the group has given the Board a document listing the cuts and how they relate to school and Board priorities. 


The Equity Inclusion and Leadership Council (EILC) reported on needed changes in the schools' fall calendar, which conflicts with both Jewish and Muslim high holy days.  While commending efforts to make the changes, the group asked that the Board and superintendent find ways to prevent such things in the future.

Parent Survey

PTA Council surveyed parents of students in all District schools.  The survey presents a clear listing of the suggested budget cuts, and asked parents to rate them on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being “extremely opposed” and 5 “not opposed at all.”   The survey directions also stated “Please do not rate everything as “extremely opposed.”  We need to collect input on the most critical areas to protect.”

As of the Board meeting, over 966 parents had responded, and responses were still coming in.  The survey, which asked school district parents what budget cuts they most, and least, opposed.  The questions on the survey provide one of the first clear outlines of the cuts that appear in the formidably confusing draft budget.

Parents were most opposed to:

• Cutting 9 FTE elementary teachers
• Eliminating strings and band programs in elementary school
• Reduction of Advanced Placement offerings
• Cutting 4 elementary school librarians

Parents were least opposed to:

• Cutting the bias prevention officer and several assistant principals
• Moving the Director of Staff Development to BOCES as a shared position
• Moving Instructional Information Technology to BOCES as a shared position
• The bus for internships and community services at the Lehman Alternative School

Board member Eldred Harris noted that the Director of Staff Development is an essential position, because, he said, “there has been a drastic disparity in how basic education has been administered,” and staff development would remedy that.  Although the survey questions were very descriptive, such issues were neither noted nor understood by the PTA.

Pie In The Face

On a lighter note, Ithaca High School (IHS) students raised the most funds of any surrounding school district for the Check Out Hunger program at Wegman's.  Their prize:  hitting principal Don Mills with a pie in the face.  Superintendent Judith Pastel treated the crowd to a video of the event.

“It was more smushed over me than put in my face,” laughed Mills.  “When I was done I had to go out to the loading dock and get the hose.”

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