School spending cuts outlined

Jay Schools administrators believe they can trim $1 million from general fund spending in 2010 without having a negative impact on the classroom experience.

The spending cuts, required because of a reduction in the amount of state tax revenue available for public schools, will be presented for consideration by the Jay School Board on Monday.

"For the most part, these are attritional cuts," superintendent Tim Long said in an interview this week. As teachers retire, some positions will not be filled and others will be filled with young teachers at a lower rate of pay.

"We started this process about six months ago," Long said, noting that committees included teachers and individual board members. "They (teachers) have really helped us. Right now, this works for us and doesn't disrupt our educational mission."

Long noted that by a number of Indiana Department of Education yardsticks the school corporation is performing extremely well.

The percentage of students passing ISTEP in math and language arts is at an historic high, Jay County High School's graduation rate is at a historic high, and average SAT score are at a historic high.

Meanwhile, the corporation continues to face challenges. The percentage of students qualifying for free lunches is at a historic high as are the percentage of students in special education and the percentage of minority students.

As outlined by Long and school corporation business manager Brad DeRome, the proposed cuts in general fund spending would total $930,000 in 2010, $1,254,000 in 2011, and $1,154,000 in 2012.

"We've taken a long term approach," Long said.

"We're trying to take advantage of all the attrition that falls in our lap," said DeRome.

It's also possible that federal Race to the Top dollars could become available to help cover the funding gap. Long said this morning he had learned over night that Jay Schools could be eligible for more than $900,000 in Race to the Top funds. "That could lessen the blow," he said.

Here's a breakdown of where the proposed savings could occur:

•By not replacing Ron Krieg, who has retired as director of buildings and grounds, and shifting those duties to DeRome, $60,000 could be saved in each of the three years.

•An estimated $100,000 would be saved each of the three years by reductions in the summer school program. Long noted that the shift of ISTEP to the spring allows the school corporation to work on remediation for students who need extra help during the school year.

•About $80,000 in salary and benefits would saved each year by not replacing a middle school librarian who has retired.

•About $80,000 would be saved each year by not replacing a JCHS English teacher who has retired.

•The food service is expected to find $30,000 a year in cost reductions.

•A high school physical education teacher is retiring at the end of the summer and will not be replaced, resulting in a savings of $24,000 the first year and $80,000 in each of the other two years.

•There will be one less section of classes at Redkey Elementary School, resulting in a savings of $24,000 the first year and $80,000 in each of the other two years.

•A half-time custodial position at General Shanks would be eliminated, resulting in a savings of $10,000 per year.

•Some duties now paid for by the general fund would be shifted to federal Title I funds, saving $20,000 the first year and $60,000 each of the other two years.

•A social studies teaching position would be eliminated resulting in a $20,000 savings the first year and $80,000 each of the other two years.

•DeRome is expected to find $50,000 in other savings each year from the general fund. "As a conservative figure I think I can get $50,000 in spending out of the general fund," DeRome said. "I wanted to set myself a target."

•Reductions in summer maintenance work would save $10,000 per year each of the three years.

•If approval is given by the Indiana General Assembly, $200,000 of this year's general fund spending would come from the transportation fund's operating balance. Another $100,000 would come from that source in 2011. This does not have an impact on the bus replacement fund, which is a separate part of the budget.

•The special education department is expected to find $60,000 in cost reductions each of the three years. "You should see no decline in services," said Long.

•There will be one less section of classes at General Shanks Elementary School, resulting in a savings of $24,000 the first year and $80,000 in each of the other two years.

•Central office staff will reduce through retirement attrition, resulting in savings of $6,000 the first year and $24,000 each of the other two years.

•A reduction of positions in the high school vocational program will result in savings of $8,000 the first year and $50,000 each of the other two years.

•A retiring teacher at General Shanks will be replaced by a younger teacher at a lower salary, resulting in savings the first year of $6,000 and $30,000 each of the other two years.

•A retiring teacher at Bloomfield Elementary School will be replaced by a younger teacher at a lower salary, resulting in savings the first year of $6,000 and $30,000 each of the other two years.

•A retiring teacher at JCHS will not be replaced, resulting in a savings of $12,000 the first year and $60,000 each of the other two years.

•A reduction in administrators through attrition is expected to save $100,000 in the second and third years.

•The school corporation's rainy day fund will be tapped for $100,000 the first year.

Long noted Jay Schools is in much better position to handle the reduction in state funding because its fiscal house is in order. "We're not just solvent but rock-solid solvent," he said.[[In-content Ad]]