FOUNTAIN SPRINGS - The North Schuylkill School District faces an almost $1.6 million budget deficit for the 2012-13 school year, a situation that could lead to curriculum cuts, layoffs and a tax increase.
The announcement was made during Wednesday's committees workshop by district Superintendent Andrew D. Smarkanic with many parents, students and teachers in attendance.
The recommendations could be in the final budget, which has not been completed. Since the meeting was a workshop, no vote was taken.
"A lot of things came into play with this budget, and in my 28 years of trying to put budgets together, this is absolutely the worse time in my history to go before the board and the public to explain a budget for a number of different reasons," Smarkanic said.
Business Manager Robert Amos said the board has been meeting frequently to discuss the budget deficit.
"There are going to be some positions eliminated educationally, and some sporting activities may be cut or reduced as well," Amos said.
The proposed budget plan will eliminate the $1,563,770 budget deficit and leave a possible surplus of $46,230, said Amos.
"Included in that is an increase in real estate taxes of 2.4 percent, and the remainder difference to come through a reduction in costs," he said.
A 2.4 percent tax increase would be about 0.75 mills, which would raise about $140,000.
Smarkanic posted a link to a one-page letter on North Schuylkill's website at www.northschuylkill.net providing background to the budget deficit issue, the proposed reduction and cuts in state funding to school districts, and the lack of information on what the federal subsidy allocations may be for next school year.
The recommendations include reducing kindergarten from full-day to half-day, impacting three teaching positions and related staff, eliminating an elementary art position, retirement incentives to staff members, realignment of course offerings and classroom rotations at the seventh- and eighth-grade levels, eliminating athletic programs at the junior high level, closing the swimming pool and eliminating the swim programs but setting up a co-op swimming program with Mahanoy Area School District.