CALEDONIA, NY — It’s beginning to sound like the same old same old, but in the wake of Gov. Paterson’s executive budget announcement, proposed state aid reductions will once again be driving public school budgets for 2010-2011. At the Jan. 26 meeting of the Cal-Mum board of education, Superintendent of Schools David Dinolfo reviewed the proposed state budget and aid projections for the district.

The proposed 2010-2011 state budget includes a $1.1 billion reduction, or five percent, in state aid from the 2009-2010 budget. That significant reduction will be felt by all 700 public school districts in the state. For Caledonia-Mumford it means that next year the district could receive a $1.6 million reduction in aid as compared with the current year.

School officials call the reduction “devastating” and say there aren’t a lot of places to make up a reduction like that except in the tax levy and no one wants to see that happen. According to the New York State website, the proposed reductions were calculated according to the individual district’s fiscal condition and student needs. Neighboring districts in the northern portion of the county are projected to receive a similar funding reduction while schools in the southern and rural parts of the county will see a lesser reduction.

The board is expected to review the first budget document at the Feb. 9 meeting. Several additional budget drafts will be discussed before a final 2010-2011 budget is adopted on April 13. Voters will be asked to approve the budget at a vote on May 18, 2010.

In other school board news, the board approved the Project Lead the Way bid which includes the purchase of software and engineering equipment and supplies through Monroe 2 – Orleans Boces. PLTW engineering courses are for students interested in pursuing an engineering degree in college. Students can earn college credit issued by Rochester Institute of Technology for PLTW courses completed with the minimum grade requirement.

The board approved the Pre K – 12 Guidance Program Plan which outlines the vast number of student programs and services.

A team of one request was approved for athletes from Lima Christian School who wish to participate in Cal-Mum Girls Track this spring.

A high school French club trip to Quebec City, Quebec in 2012 received board approval. The eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C. scheduled for October 2010 was also approved.

The next school board meeting is February 23 at 6 p.m. in the district board room.