Schools

Collective Bargaining Decision Further Delays School District's Budget Progress

Delays also causing the Greenfield School District to hold off on staffing decisions.

Despite Judge Maryann Sumi's , many believe the changes proposed through Act 10 will likely occur as part of the regular budget bill.

So the impact of today's ruling will likely have no additional impact on the , at least not financially.

In terms of logistics, well, that's another story. Sumi's decision, and future court cases and re-votes, will continue to hamper the district's ability to get its 2011-12 budget and other business finalized in a timely fashion.

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"The delay in implementation of the changes first proposed in Act 10 will force us to have to make major adjustments with far less time than is necessary," Greenfield Superintendent Conrad Farner said. "Handbooks, grievance procedures, health insurance changes and the other changes simply do not just happen between July 1  and Sept. 1."

Farner said the district has also held off on staffing decisions because it does not know what the budget impact of the significant cuts in revenue that have been proposed is going to be.

Find out what's happening in Greenfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"There is no question we will be rushing and scrambling to get ready for the start of school as we have three new principals, did not replace our director of secondary education, and we have all of the normal beginning-of-the-year preparations that already keep us busy in the summer," he said.

Farner said this isn't the first time local school districts have been at the mercy of the state legislature.

"There have been years when no state budget was set until two or three months into the fiscal year, so that forces us to develop multiple budgets so as to be prepared for any number of scenarios," he said.

"Despite the declining revenue and increased demands, we will continue to do our best to attract and retain the best educators and staff we can, meet all the additional requirements of Act 10 and the budget bill, and have our schools and grounds clean and safe for the next school year."


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