PORTAGE COUNTY Auditor urges cost-saving measures for Windham Exempted Village Schools

Recommendations include closing one school building.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- The Windham Exempted Village Schools could save more than $300,000 under recommendations in a performance audit released by State Auditor Betty D. Montgomery.
"We hope this plan helps district officials continue on the path of success through improved operating efficiencies and more effective use of existing tax dollars," Montgomery, a Republican, said recently.
The performance audit was conducted after the 1,100-pupil, northeastern Portage County school system was placed in fiscal caution last year. Among the audit's recommendations Windham schools should:
* Close East Elementary and move grades four through six to Katherine Thomas Elementary, saving more than $300,000 in salary and benefits and use costs. During the audit, the school system closed the school but moved grades four and five to Thomas Elementary and moved the sixth grade to the junior high school.
* Cut or reduce the number of sick days paid out at retirement for staff in future contract negotiations. That would save the school system $11,500 per year for certain staff members who are eligible to retire in the next few years, according to the audit.
* Reducing the bus fleet by one bus and using the Portage County Regional Transportation Authority to conduct an annual route analysis for the district. Cutting one bus will result in an annual savings of $37,000 for the Windham schools.
District pleased with proposals
The recommendations are not binding on the school district. Windham School Superintendent Ron Niemiec said the district is pleased with the proposed changes.
"We sort of worked closely with the auditors and went back and forth and made decisions as a result," Niemiec said.
Aside from closing East Elementary, Niemiec said the school system has also cut staffing by 30 in many areas including teachers, administration and support staff.
The district has also reduced busing, Niemiec said.
All told, Niemiec said the school system has cut spending by about $1.2 million from the budget in the last year.
The school system has an approximately $8.5 million operating budget and operates an elementary, a junior high and a high school in the village of Windham and Windham Township in Portage County.