Rather than increase property taxes a projected 8.68 percent, the Jamestown Public Schools district is proposing the elimination of as many as 29 positions.
Deke Kathman, superintendent, and Dale Weatherlow, assistant superintendent for administration, presented the first draft of the Jamestown Public Schools District budget for 2012-13 Tuesday night. The budget includes no increase in the district's tax levy by using $2,775,000 from the district's fund balance, an increase of $1 million from the 2011-12 budget.
"The direction that we gave them was that there be no tax increase. We just don't feel that the citizens of this community can take any more, as most of us can't take any more. So, we gave them the direction to get to where we want to go," said Christine Schnars, board president.
The budget's first draft has expenditures of $77,742,505, an increase of $3,287,876 from last year. After increases in state aid and the end of short-term federal aid, the district found itself with a projected gap of $1,270,671.
"The good news, as Dale mentioned, is that it is a smaller number than we've been wrestling with the last couple budget seasons. The bad news is, that's not a small number," Kathman said.
MAKING CUTS
Kathman presented the board with potential several budget cuts that included 29 full-time equivalent positions within the district, as well as adjustments to programs. He proposed reducing maintenance in school fitness centers, particularly at the middle school level, as well as consolidating the three middle school modified softball teams into one district softball team.
Additionally, there are projected staffing cuts. Last year, the district made the decision to close Rogers Elementary School, which impacts the number of cuts that are projected for this year.
"About, not exactly, but about half of our reductions are directly related to the previous decision to close one of our elementary schools," Kathman said.
Among the projected cuts to teacher positions are four elementary classroom teachers, three middle school teachers - which would include one English, math and science teacher- and a social studies teacher. Additionally, several teachers that are retiring are projected to not be replaced. The estimated total savings would be $1,280,000.
"This is not easy. As I've said several times before, this $1,280,00 worth of reductions come on the heels of 90 position cuts in the last two years. So, to suggest that we're not clipping close to the bone, well, we are," Kathman said.
About half of the position cuts that are proposed are classroom positions, which Kathman said is something the district has been attempting to avoid over the last few years. If all of the projected cuts were to go through, it would create what Kathman said would be a very slight increase to class sizes.
"While we have, for example, four elementary school teacher positions at risk here, that's four positions over seven grade levels, and, currently, nine different schools. So, we have a large elementary-certified staff teaching K through eighth grade, and this is a four position reduction to that. All of those reductions, elementary anyway, are directly related to our closing of a school decision. So, we're able to be more efficient on how we deploy the staff as a result," Kathman said.
NEXT STEPS
Mrs. Schnars said the board wants get a more clear picture of what revenues from the state will be over the next several weeks. Once more is known about state aid revenues, the district can make its final decisions.
"We made major cuts over the last three years. So, we're now to the point where cuts are going to be personnel, and they're going to be teachers, because the other stuff is gone. We can't go back and re-cut it. We've got to have a very careful eye on which programs are being affected and which aren't, what classroom sizes are being affected," Mrs. Schnars said.
She said that the board is looking to ensure that the district still has very solid programs in English, science, math and social studies. She said that it is also focusing on music programs, which she said is very important to the schools.
"We're going to be taking a look at all of it, and I'm sure that there are going to be some tweaks and changes to the cut list you see now. Hopefully it will be a lot less cuts by the time we get to the end of this," Mrs. Schnars said.
The next Board of Education regular meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 27. A work session will be held Tuesday, March 13.
