Sean C. Morgan
Supt. Larry Horton presented a final list of recommended budget reductions to the District 55 School Board on March 14.
The board did not alter the list, and the reductions will be included in the proposed 2011-12 budget this spring, Horton said.
The district is expecting some $1.5 million less in revenue next year. Horton and the administrators have been working on a priority list for cuts.
“We understand where the $1.5 million is coming from,” Horton said. “If there needs to be more, we’ll re-evaluate where we are.”
Some items, such as four furlough days, require union agreement, Horton said. In the case the unions do not agree, then the administrators will need to look at additional cuts.
“The bottom line is that these cuts will negatively impact our students,” Horton said. “None of us feel good about that.
“Given the current economic conditions, we see no other option that we have control over.”
The proposed reductions include:
Merging Holley and Crawfordsville, including the reduction of a teacher, a secretary, a custodian and assistants, for an estimated savings of $170,000;
Reducing pool operations, $125,000;
Cutting three elementary teacher positions at town schools, $195,000;
Cutting two high school teacher positions, $130,000;
Four furlough days, $240,000;
Paying early retirement from the early retirement reserve fund, $160,000;
Paying for maintenance from the long-term maintenance fund, $150,000;
A spending freeze this year and next, $20,000;
Hiring substitutes only when absolutely required this year and next, $40,000;
Using the Public Employees Retirement System set aside to help cover PERS rate increases, $130,000;
Cutting a .5 full-time equivalent maintenance position, $25,000;
Cutting a .5 FTE transportation position $6,000;
Cutting .3 FTE administrator-supervisor time, $20,000;
Cutting two classified instructional aide positions, $60,000;
Cutting school resource officer position, $10,000;
Sports programs, $20,000;
Supplies, $15,000;
Technology, $10,000; and
Cutting .3 FTE cafeteria positions, $9,000.
The list adds back $20,000 in textbook funds.
Sweet Home Junior High was supposed to get a new teaching position this year, Horton said, but recognizing that junior high enrollment would begin falling again, Principal Hal Huschka did not fill the position rather than hiring and laying off a teacher.
“He, in essence, cut his teacher,” Horton said.
Most of the elementary teacher cuts should be covered by the retirement and resignation of current teachers, Horton said.
He did not know whether any high school teachers would be laid off, he said. He doesn’t know where Principal Pat Stineff will have to cut, but the high school had one retirement and a resignation of a half-time teacher.
The sports cut is across the board, Horton said, mostly in travel and coaching.
If the revenue shortfall is larger than $1.5 million, Horton said, other potential cuts may include increasing lunch prices; salary freezes with union agreement; a four-day week; an additional furlough day; reductions in food service, maintenance-custodial and behavior consultant staff; eliminating enough staff to balance the budget; and contracting for services, such as food service, maintenance and transportation.