Ellenville Journal / EYE ON PINE BUSH: The Economics Of Education

PBCSD Transportation By The Numbers One of the matters discussed during Tuesday's meeting was the district's proposed transportation budget for the 2008-2009 school year. Included in the presentation was a breakdown of the district's large transportation services.
108.8 square miles – The size of the Pine Bush Central School District, which includes seven townships that span three counties (Orange, Sullivan and Ulster).
184 – The number of trips the school district's bus fleet performs every day.
6,672 – Total number of students transported during the course of a regular day.
2,133,900 – The estimated number of miles traveled over a year.
215,000 – Estimated amount of gallons of gas consumed during the 2006-2007 school year.
Deborha Brush, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services, explained that all of the bus routes are reviewed on a yearly basis to maximize their efficiency. Based on revised data, the district generates preliminary runs that are then tested by drivers.
With regards to the 2008-2009 budget, the district is estimating gasoline to cost $3.00 per gallon. The cost would represent an increase of fifteen cents per gallon over the current price of $2.85.
The transportation budget also calls for 50 video cameras to be placed in buses at a cost of $623 each for a total cost of $31,150.

Instructional Budget Requests
Joan M Carbone, the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, presented a series of requests to be included in the 2008-2009 budget.

District Requests:
English as Second Language Teacher (ESL) $47,720
Nurse (to be shared among the district's buildings) $77,000
The actual increase in cost to district taxpayers would be $59,720 as the school would eliminate the position of an "itinerant substitute nurse." When asked why the district could not continue with its current part time nurse, Carbone explained that the $17,280 currently being offered was not being viewed as competitive by prospective applicants, which made filling the position difficult.

High School Requests:
Art Teacher $47,260
College Psychology $7,800
Technology Elective $ 7,800
Pre-Engineering/Technical Academy Start-Up $5,000
Increase In Summer School Stipend ($400 per course at 30 courses) $12,000
Pine Bush summer school teachers currently receive a stipend of $1,350 per class. Carbone explained that, at that rate, Pine Bush was the lowest paying district in Orange County. Summer school classes take place over a six-week period from July 6 to August 15 and meet four days a week.
PBCSD Retirees
The audience and board acknowledged the contributions of 7 retiring administrators, teachers and staff with a long round of applause. The retirees are:
Bernadette M. Reichle, Principal of the E.J. Russell Elementary School.
Patricia Moore-Carroll, art teacher.
Janice T. Coyne, reading teacher.
Linda J. Falk, elementary school teacher.
Susan Caston, speech teacher.
Steve LoTurco, science teacher.
Sue Groth, music teacher.

See next week for breakdowns of Pine Bush's Operations and Maintenance Program as well as its Middle and Elementary School instructional budget requests.

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