BAINBRIDGE – Approximately 80 members of the community attended last night’s Bainbridge-Guilford Central School District budget forum, held in the B-G High School auditorium.

Due in part to both the statewide Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA), which cuts funding to schools in an effort to reduce the state deficit, and because of the school’s designation as average needs instead of high, the Bainbridge-Guilford Central School District is struggling to manage a $1.2 million deficit for the 2013-2014 school year. If B-G was considered a high needs school, it would be receiving an additional $500,000 in state aid for the upcoming school year, according to school officials.

Monday night’s public forum follows in the wake of another, which was held March 4, and the new proposed budget reflects changes made at the bequest of those in attendance.

“We really are trying to make the adjustments to the budget based on the community’s feedback,” said Superintendent Dr. Don Wheeler.

To manage the $1.2 million deficit, the BOE and school administrators are proposing to increase taxes by the 4.89 percent tax cap, use $438,330 of the school’s reserves and cut a variety of programs and positions amounting to $779,708 in cuts. The cuts would include six secondary positions, three elementary, and two facilities/general support positions.

Concern was raised during the March 4 meeting concerning the cuts in regards to the business communications and marketing programs. In response, members of the school staff collaborated to develop a proposal for a Business Manufacturing Technology program that would provide students with an on-site entrepreneur program linking studies in business, technology, graphic design and communications. The program would require the additional use of $50,000 of revenue, which has been factored into the proposed use of school reserves. Administrators are also seeking to increase collaboration with regional colleges to help offset reductions to the business program.

“I can’t do it justice, it is an amazing program,” said Wheeler, who promised that a more in-depth presentation will be conducted by members of the staff developing the program.

Among the proposed changes are the purchase of new buses.

“I know it sounds odd to ask to buy buses considering the situation,” said Wheeler, who went on to explain that by purchasing two new propane buses each year the district will actually end up saving approximately $10,600 per replaced bus due to federal grants, the sharp decrease in the cost of propane fuel (an estimated $2.92 per gallon) and the reduced cost of maintenance on the new vehicles. The school already as four propane buses.

Assemblymen Clifford Crouch was in attendance during Monday night’s forum and also addressed those assembled.

“It is gut wrenching because a lot of the schools in my district are getting hit hard by the cuts,” he said. Crouch continued, speaking about some of the work he is doing in Albany to try and offset as much of the effects of the GEA as possible. Crouch is also currently looking into how B-G is being rated by the state education department and is waiting to hear back on questions regarding the school’s tax base.