South Country 'Looking At All Feasible Options' To Close The Budget Gap: Spokesman

EAST PATCHOGUE, NY — While some teaching and administrative jobs are under scrutiny for elimination this budget cycle, South Country Central School District officials are "looking at all feasible options to help close this year's budget gap" and "keep it on track" with its three-year fiscal recovery plan, a spokesman told Patch.

Schools Superintendent Antonio Santana is proposing to cut 55 jobs, including 43 teachers and five administrators, the district spokesman confirmed.

The spending plan was discussed Wednesday at a Board of Education meeting.

In a letter to the school community on Thursday, which was provided to Patch, Santana said the administration is proposing cost savings that include reductions in teacher, administrative, and support staff positions as part of its 2026-27 spending plan.

"We realize our community is concerned about these staff reductions and their potential impact on our students," he wrote. "Each potential reduction was considered carefully and thoughtfully, guided by the principle of preserving students’ core academic programming and essential services to the greatest extent possible."

"We recognize that these decisions affect valued members of our school community, and we are deeply grateful for the dedication and contributions of all our staff," he continued. "The strength of South Country has always been the people who serve our students each day, and we do not take these decisions lightly."

Santana said the purpose behind penning the letter was to share the initial planning for the district's spending plan, and discuss the "difficult decisions" facing the district to ensure "long-term financial stability."

The proposed savings are part of South Country's three-year fiscal recovery plan designed to restore it to solid financial footing, according to Santana.

"This comprehensive plan, developed based on recommendations from our independent auditors and John Belmonte, our interim superintendent for finance and management services, addresses the shortcomings in our past financial practices and protocols and our current structural budget challenges," he wrote. "It ensures the district can continue to meet its financial obligations while maintaining a high-quality educational program for our students."

Santana went on to say that similar to many districts, South Country, is "facing significant financial pressures."

Rising costs in areas such as health insurance, special student services, transportation, and contractual obligations "continue to outpace revenue growth," contributing to the district's "current fiscal challenges," according to Santana.

"At the same time, our state aid and local revenue sources have not increased sufficiently to fully offset these growing costs," he added.

Reductions in student enrollment "also require the district to continually evaluate how staffing and resources align with student needs," Santana wrote, adding that that district has been working with representatives from state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office on the budget's development and has "conducted a comprehensive review of operations and spending."

"Throughout this process, classroom instruction, student supports, and the programs most central to student learning and well-being have been prioritized," he wrote. "While we have made every effort to minimize the impact on students, the proposed staffing reductions are necessary to remain on track with the district’s fiscal recovery plan and to ensure the long-term financial health of our district."

"As we move forward, we remain committed to transparency and to keeping the community informed," he continued. "We will continue sharing additional information about the proposed budget and the district’s financial plan at upcoming Board of Education meetings and [Parent Teacher Association] meetings. We encourage community members to stay engaged in this process."

He concluded by thanking the community for its "continued support" of the district and for its "partnership in ensuring that our students continue to receive the education they deserve."

District officials will meet again to discuss the budget on March 25 and April 1. The Board of Education is expected to approve a final budget proposal on April 22.