LIBERTY LEVY School official warns of cuts

A Liberty schools levy will be on the ballot in May for the fourth time.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LIBERTY -- The school district administration may be forced to make severe cuts, including eliminating sports, clubs and much of its busing, the superintendent warns.
Superintendent Larry Prince stressed that such cutbacks can potentially occur, but no decisions have been made.
Prince's comments come after voters rejected a 7.9-mill levy that appeared on the Nov. 2 ballot. This was the third money-generating issue voters have turned down since March.
Results have been fairly consistent, as between 44 percent and 46 percent have voted in favor of the levies. Prince said the 7.9-mill levy will be placed before voters during May primary balloting.
The district, the superintendent said, is facing a $334,000 deficit by the end of June 2005, $779,000 by June 2006 and $1.78 million by June 2007.
Criticism
The latest levy campaign had received some criticism because the amount of millage was not specified in the literature.
Prince countered that he hadn't heard such a charge but voters had a lot of available data as every registered voter received a pamphlet explaining the need for the money, and 1,000 yard signs were distributed.
"Everything is being considered," Prince said about possible cutbacks that are on the table.
A possibility is to eliminate all supplemental contracts, effectively doing away with all extracurricular activities such as sports, band and clubs.
Prince pointed out that the district has lost three bus driver in three years, resulting in the consolidation of routes. The next step being considered is reducing transportation to the state minimum -- only transporting kindergarten through eighth-grade pupils living two miles or more from their buildings and no busing for high school students.
"These are all difficult situations," Prince commented, noting that he wants to retain the services but is unable to financially.
The superintendent pointed to savings the district has experienced.
The Liberty Association of School Employees, which represents all union employees, extended its contract through Aug. 31, 2005, with no increase in base salary. Those who have step increases for years of service and educational qualifications continue to receive increases.
Other cutbacks
There have also been cuts in building, athletic, technology and textbook budgets.
Changes in a contract with Community Busing have saved money. A group-rated plan for workers' compensation and participation in a natural gas energy pool have also contributed to savings, he said.
Nonetheless, Prince called attention to increased costs in special education; health, liability, property and life insurance premiums; textbooks, technology and permanent improvement costs; have taken their toll on the general fund budget.
Health care alone has increased by 46 percent to 48 percent since 1998.
"It's clear that that's a priority the next time we negotiate," Prince said, noting the employee contract expires Aug. 31, 2005.
Educational programs have been cut in addition to instituting a pay-to-participate fee that has resulted in a parent lawsuit that remains unresolved, and open enrollment to increase revenue, Prince explained.
He called attention to the loss of the middle school foreign language program, the loss of the elementary art specialists that has resulted in classroom teachers teaching art, and the loss of English and social studies teachers at the high school, resulting in fewer electives and larger classes.
"There will certainly be other major impacts on the system," Prince said.
yovich@vindy.com