East Ramapo music teacher Andres Perez directed what he believes was likely his last chorus concert at Elmwood Elementary School on Tuesday evening. At the same time, a few miles away, the district superintendent at a public hearing warned of the “dire consequences” a second failed budget vote would bring.
The sparsely attended budget hearing was held ahead of a June 18 election when the district’s 2013-14 budget will go before voters a second time this spring.
The $209.5 million budget, amended only slightly from the $209.9 million proposal that failed at the polls two weeks ago, eliminates dozens of teaching jobs, including Perez’s and those of his colleagues who teach art and music in the elementary schools.