Salem school officials expect cuts to save district $300K

Retiring workers will help the district's bottom line.
SALEM -- Faced with trimming $1.25 million from the expense budget for the 2005-06 school year, the Salem City Schools Board of Education has approved reductions in force that they hope will save the district about $300,000.
The board authorized Superintendent David Brobeck to cut 30 nonteaching positions, but Brobeck says he's hoping to save jobs by reducing employee hours in those categories.
Brobeck said he's looking at a plan that would cut working hours for duty aids by up to 30 hours a week and for cafeteria workers by up to nine hours a week.
"It's a hurtful thing, and people are upset about the loss of hours, and the possible loss of benefits," Brobeck said.
Reduced benefits
Nonteaching staff must work a minimum of 20 hours a week to be eligible for benefits. Employees who work less than 20 hours a week may be eligible for reduced benefits, he said.
Brobeck said that about $850,000 will come from cuts in teacher and school-building level administrator positions. The district will gain about $100,000 from a district level administrative contract that was not renewed.
"This summer we should have some personnel who will be making a decision to retire, and that will help," he said.
The board also approved one teacher resignation at Monday night's meeting and approved supplemental contracts for athletic coaches.