SL Schools propose $1.2m in cuts

Storm Lake School staff, administrators and board members met this week to discuss staff input and administration recommendations for the 2010-11 budget reductions.

Staff listed over 100 items they believed to have savings potential. Administrators listed an additional 52 items, including several possible staff reductions, amounting to nearly $1.2 million.

Superintendent Dr. Paul Tedesco stressed that this is still a "work in progress".

Additional staff input and public input will be heard at a special meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Middle School Media Center. No action will be taken by the board there.

District officials say looking for cuts is a proactive action; there are still many unknown factors for the budget, including the level of State funding. If numbers are more positive, they will back off some cuts.

Tedesco said he is aware that some staff have expressed "fear and stress" following a presentation on school financed earlier this month.

"It was never my intent to instill fear or stress," he said. "Change and the unknown usually cause an initial response of fear or stress. Getting the facts, analyzing what you can do and forming options relieves most of the fear and stress."

He continued, "As your superintendent, I have responsibility for the district's budget. Acceptance of what has happened is the first step in responsibility."

Dr. Tedesco said he has accepted the fact that the state implemented an across the board cut of 10 percent in October - a loss of $1 million for the district.

"The (recent) 10 percent cut is permanent," he said. "Many conflicts in life revolve around finances. When you have less money coming in than you have going out, changes must be made. No one, not the administration, school board, staff, students or parents, enjoy the budget reduction process."

Dr. Tedesco says the SLCSD is in better shape than many districts.

He explained that he and the board have talked about using the district's undesignated cash reserves of approximately $1.4 million - which is enough money to operate the district for 27 days - to continue with the planned programs and services for the rest of this school year.

The largest cost savings could come from the reduction of an administrator. High school principal Teresa Coenen will retire at the end of the school year. If this position is not replaced and duties were reassigned internally, savings could be $101,595.

The elimination of two third grade positions is being recommended but there is concern over the number of students and the possibility of not being able to meet the developmental needs. ($81,008 savings.) The possible elimination of one kindergarten teacher is bringing the same concerns. ($43,456 savings.)

Also in the elementary building there are recommendations to eliminate two media positions and requiring teachers to take their students to the media center ($45,453 savings), reduce half-time PE teacher ($32,929 savings), reduce one-fourth elementary music teacher ($16,928 savings), reduce one guidance counselor (also drawing concern) ($67.414 savings), reduce three-fourths time media position at East School ($18,830 savings) and one custodian position ($33,808 savings.)

At the middle school, recommendations are pointing to the possibility of reducing one fifth grade teacher ($43,456 savings), one sixth grade teacher ($47,606 savings), one ELL teacher ($57,267 savings - this is currently funded by At-Risk funds), one band teacher ($65,858 savings) and one choir teacher ($56,256 savings), both of which are bringing about concern that more teachers in this area are needed due to the diversity of the student population.

There are also recommendations pointing to the reduction of a one-halftiome PE teacher, one-half media instructional assistant and one-fourth vocational teacher ($74,199 savings). Another recommendation would combine boys and girls track bus travel ($640 savings.)

At the high school, there are recommendations to reduce one art teacher though there is a concern that this is one area where many students excel. Offerings to students would then possibly be reduced ($40,504 savings).

Also at the high school, there are possibilities that one language arts teacher could be eliminated with the suggestion that the newspaper and yearbook production be changed to an after-school activity ($57,897 savings). One of these positions is currently funded by At-Risk funds. The reduction of two instructional assistants ($43,828 savings) and vocational teacher ($63,885 - currently funded by At-Risk funds) are also possibilities.

Other recommendations include charging a registration fee for St. Mary's students taking part in high school programs (additional $3,000), not hiring substitute teachers for teacher sick days and sending students to study halls instead ($15,000 savings), not filling the assistant large group or individual speech positions ($2,622 savings) and not filling the ACE extracurricular position ($1,311 savings.)

In athletics, a recommendation eliminates assistant coaching positions for boys and girls golf, boys and girls tennis, varsity football, boys and girls track, cross country and wrestling ($23,918 savings.) There is concern that head coaches may not be able to meet all needs and supervision responsibilities.

Combining bus trips rather than taking two or more buses to separate genders, ages and cheerleaders could also save the district funds ($4,540).

Eliminating prom was the last recommendation made. Staff members serve as sponsors for this event. ($4,778).

Tedesco then presented options to reduce the budget in increments rather than in one huge chunk. The four "tiers" as he has called them, could providing a starting point for when more information from the state is received. (Tier one would reduce $303,000; Tier two raises the total to a possible $550,000; Tier three increases savings to a possible $760,000 and Tier four (all tiers) totals savings of $1.1 million.

"The sooner we get some more information, the more we can understand the variables," he said. "Our planning is an effort to be proactive rather than reactive. This plan is only part of the necessary information to know all of the options to be considered for our 2010-11 budget. Financial planning in these uncertain times at our school must balance our decisions on the welfare of the students."

At Thursday's meeting, the school board will follow established practice of recognizing individuals addressing the board, which includes a sign-up for those wanting to address the board and a two-three minute time allotments.

Copies of the input and proposal will be available at Thursday's meeting.

Any changes in the proposal to staff or programs, if needed, will require board action at a future meeting after all input is received and funding levels are known for next year.

Read more of this story in the January 30 Pilot Tribune.