Sean C. Morgan
School District 55 Supt. Larry Horton outlined a set of possible reductions for the 2011-12 school year as the district attempts to deal with a projected $1.5 million reduction in revenues from the state.
The number could be worse, Horton warned. Based on the governor’s initial budget proposal, the district would have to cut up to $2.3 million, but from what he’s hearing from other sources, the state’s education budget will probably be a little higher.
“Administrators have been developing this list,” Horton said. “These are not necessarily items that will happen. These are possibilities administrators are looking at.”
The administrators will prioritize the list later, and Horton will take it to the board, which will hold a work session to talk about the items on the list.
As extensive as cuts were last year, Horton said, they’re even more extensive for 2011-12.
He presented a list of possible reductions to the board, he said. “I don’t think I missed anyone. None of these are good for kids. The environment we are facing right now is not good for any of us. The reality is we have to deal with what we have.”
On deck for possible cuts are merging Holley and Crawfordsville schools, $170,000; mothballing the pool, $120,000; reducing two high school teachers and moving to a seven-period day, $195,000; reducing three elementary teachers, $195,000; four furlough days with union approval, $240,000; paying early retirement costs from early retirement reserves, $135,000; using long-term maintenance reserves to pay for the maintenance budget, $100,000; a spending freeze in the current school year, $10,000; hiring substitute teachers “when absolutely required” this year and next, $40,000; using Public Employees Retirement System reserve funds to help cover the $400,000 increase in PERS rates, $100,000; reducing maintenance by .5 full-time equivalent positions, $25,000; reducing transportation by .5 FTE, $20,000; reducing administrator time by .3 FTE, $20,000; reducing two instructional aides, $60,000; discontinuing the school resource officer program, $10,000; and reducing cafeteria help by .3 FTE, $9,000.
The cuts would add up to $1,384,000 in reductions.
Additional possibilities include a total salary freeze, $140,000; a 1 percent pay cut across the board, $125,000; eliminating the elementary Opportunity Room, $130,000; eliminating the junior high Stepping Stones program, $130,000; eliminating high school alternative education, $70,000; Eliminating one maintenance position, $50,000; eliminating one cafeteria worker, $35,000; a fifth furlough day, $60,000; switching to a four-day week, $250,000; and reducing athletic programs, $25,000.
The additional list would provide more than $2.3 million in cuts if needed.
The district’s Budget Committee will begin meeting on May 16. The board is scheduled to hold a hearing and decide whether to approve the budget on June 13.
Present at the meeting were board members Leena Neuschwander, Chanz Keeney, Billie Weber, Dale Keene, Chairman Jason Redick, Mike Reynolds, David VanDerlip, John Fassler and Jenny Daniels.
In other business, the board:
n Declared two blackboards surplus.
n Hired Larry Robinson as temporary language arts teacher at Sweet Home High School.
n Approved and accepted federal grants for $30,691 for low-income schools; $33,818 for training and recruitment; and $1,995 for technology.
n Adopted a budget calendar for 2010-11.
n Approved the 2011-2012 school calendar. School will start on Sept. 6 and end on June 14.
n Adopted policy revisions for physical examinations.
n Approved a memorandum of understanding with teachers regarding grant funds paying for reading tuition.
n Hired Marcy Sullens as a .1 full-time equivalent Title I teacher at Hawthorne.
n Held the first reading of a policy regarding the use of the Internet.
n Accepted the retirement and rehired as a temporary Chris Dahlenburg, Title I teacher.