On March 24th, the Irvington Board of Education presented the Superintendent's proposed budget for the upcoming school year. With 1,848 students in the school system -- 40 fewer students than last year -- the Superintendent has asked for a spending increase of 1.37%, bringing the budget to $51,274,224.00. If approved, this may make Irvington the most expensive school district in Westchester, paying $27,745 per student. It need not cost this much to provide our children with a first rate education. Pleasantville, identified by the NY Board of Education as a "similar school", paid $15,753 per student in 2008. In ten years, while adding only 137 students, the budget has doubled, an increase that cannot be explained by increased costs and/or the meeting of state mandates. We believe this is excessive, and that in this economic climate, should be stopped. The constant tax increases hurt our community, driving out long-term residents (particularly those on fixed-incomes) and in this new economic world we live in, simply cannot be sustained. Instead of our tenth straight year of increase, we believe the budget can and should be cut by as much as 5%, or $2,563,711.00, without sacrificing student instruction in any way. We call on the Board of Education to reject the Superintendent's budget on April 14th and request that a new, reduced budget be presented. Then, as per state law, the budget should be finalized on April 24th at an open forum. Remember, the school administration and Board of Education are not an autonomous corporation, they're supposed to work for you! Your voice can make THE difference. Did you know The Irvington Superintendent makes more than the NYC School Chancellor who manages more the 1.1 million students and 120 administrators * In ten years, the number of non-teaching administrative positions has more than tripled * It is not true that the budget must be approved on April 14th. * According to the NY State School Board Association, the budget can be finalized on May 5th. * After repeated requests failed to get administrators to provide organizational information about district personnel to better understand the budget, a parent filed a Freedom of Information Act request.