We wonder if the focus of Jamestown Public Schools board members is in the right place as they discuss this year’s budget.

Board members have come to general agreement on a budget that would increase taxes 1.5 percent, cut 20 positions – 16 through attrition – and largely preserve programs and class sizes. While we would love to see no tax increase, this is a budget that decreases use of the district’s dwindling fund balance, raises taxes a full 2 percent less than the district’s tax cap allowance and absorbs a 17 percent increase in the district’s required payment to BOCES. It seems a fair compromise given the disappointment of district officials with the amount of the district’s state aid increase and the way the district’s aid increase is structured. Remember, to, that the proposed tax increase will be paid back to taxpayers through the second year of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s tax freeze/rebate program.

If the district is going to cut staff, at a total savings of $988,191, then it would seem to make sense to keep professional development money in the budget. Tim Mains, district superintendent, had already proposed cutting professional development by $50,000. Board members are now proposing another $100,000 cut in order to keep a teacher. We believe it was Mr. Spock who said the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. There seems to be little logic to keeping one person on the payroll to deprive dozens of teachers the ability to learn new skills that will benefit their students. Statistically, having one additional teacher might benefit a class of between 16 to 24 children, depending on the teacher’s grade level. Professional development programs could benefit hundreds of students.

That doesn’t mean we disagree with the board’s focus on either no tax increase or as small an increase as possible. Equipment and supplies are increasing nearly $420,000 in the latest budget presentation – a number that may be able to be trimmed. If it can’t be lowered, perhaps changes to a combination of professional development programs, extra-curricular programs and equipment and supplies are worth examining.

School districts aren’t local jobs programs. They are institutions tasked with providing the best education possible at the lowest cost to the taxpayer. It is likely more cost effective and better for the district’s educational program to trim staffing and benefits than it is to trim training. They should find other areas to cut.