School budget cuts this year could mean outsourced custodians, substitute teachers, and cooks, among a host of other changes.
Administration came up with more than $4 million in school-district cuts, but doesn’t recommend half of them.
“The list is painful ? I’m not happy with it,” said Superintendent Dr. Al Roberts at the March 23 Clarkston Board of Education meeting. “It impacts operations.”
Recommended changes, which would reduce the district’s $82 million budget by $1.8 million, include 30 students recruited to the district through open-enrollment programs such as IB and CMSTech, adding $225,600; $860,000 in additional special education and Title I funding; cut “REAL Time” at Sashabaw Middle School, saving $70,000; outsource substitute teaching, $40,000; eliminate noon bus runs, $150,000; delay technological upgrades, $200,000; delay textbook upgrades, $100,000; and run classes as large as contract allows, $200,000
Further cuts of up to $2.3 million, which Roberts does not recommend, include outsourcing transportation, maintenance, custodial, food service, personnel, clerical payroll, and other services, $100,000-$1,300,000; eliminate ‘non-load bearing? teachers, such as subject area coordinators and counselors, $250,000; restructure administration, $100,000; eliminate media tech positions, $248,000; eliminate instructional aides, $125,000; and eliminate elementary art program, $300,000.
Stephen Hyer, school board president, called on administration to work out details of some unrecommended cuts, including outsourcing administration and services.
“By April 27, the budget is pretty much set,” Hyer said. “We don’t have much time.”
About 85 percent of district spending is for employee salaries and benefits, and state law requires layoff notices to be issued by the end of April, he said.
Roberts said personnel cuts can backfire, and administration has been cut early and often.
“It’s really thin now,” he said. “We will lose far more than we gain if we get rid of capable employees.”
Trustee Joan Patterson suggested dipping into the district fund balance, about $8 million, to help struggling families.
However, the fund balance is needed to cover payroll in between state funding allocations, Hyer said.
“Now it’s more important than ever not to have to borrow,? he said.
Patterson agreed, but said they should keep an eye on state legislation, some of which subtract fund balances when calculating school funding.
“The state doesn’t like that we have savings,” Patterson said. “We need to watch for a grab of our savings.”
With two meetings in April, the school board must decide on the recommendations quickly, especially those regarding staffing, Hyer said.
The board meets April 13 and 27, 7 p.m., at school administration, 6389 Clarkston Road. Budget must be approved by the end of June. For more information, call 248-623-5400.