By Dave Dahl
Suburban correspondent
A resident urged more publicity for students in the Springville-Griffith Institute Central School District and questioned the need for a new position in the 2014-15 budget Tuesday night.
“We don’t do a good job telling the world what great things we have here,” said Julie Francisco, who added students’ achievements should be more heavily promoted.
She also asked about the need for a proposed curriculum coordinator, a new position proposed in the budget. A pair of Board of Education candidates, Michael Connors and Janine Caimano, provided the only other comments during the budget hearing and regular meeting in the high school’s library.
Connors asked about the cost of grant writers and the transportation stipend. Caimano inquired about the need for a curriculum coordinator.
In the budget, voters will see a rise in the tax levy, the amount collected in taxes, from $14.7 million to $15.2 million, which complies with the state’s tax levy increase cap.
The spending plan eliminates a special education teacher and special education teacher’s aide.
Besides the curriculum coordinator, the budget creates a kindergarten teaching position at Springville Elementary School.
Spending would rise from $34,910,953 to $36,135,708.
Seven candidates are competing for three seats in the election. The seats carry three-year terms that will start July 1.
The budget vote and board election are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 20 in the high school, Colden Elementary School and Collins Center Fire Hall.
On another topic, Ted Welch, business administrator, updated the board about Marlene Golabek, a school bus driver injured when a tractor-trailer crashed into the bus she was driving April 30 at Springville-Boston and Genesee roads in the town of Concord. The bus had no passengers.
Golabek, 56, a Springville resident, sustained injuries and has been visiting doctors, Welch said.
He told the board she will probably not drive for the rest of the school year.
Following the accident, rescue volunteers asked for more practice in extricating drivers, Welch said. They removed six seats behind the driver, he added, and would like to find a more efficient method for future incidents.