Plan redo frees cash for deficit

Eight teachers won't have jobs next year, and 57 others are on a furlough list.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A revamping of the city school district's building construction program could help reduce the $4 million general fund deficit expected at the end of the school year June 30.
Cutbacks in the scope of the work, including eliminating two buildings from the construction plan and reducing the size of five others because of declining enrollment, have reduced the overall project cost from $199.5 million to $192.2 million, said Carolyn Funk, district treasurer.
The state is picking up $140 million, but the overall cutback reduces the district's share of the project cost and that, in turn, can free up some money that had been transferred from the general fund into the construction account, she said.
Specifically, the district sold nearly $4.2 million worth of Anthem insurance stock to help finance the local share of the rebuilding program. That was general fund money that didn't come from any bond issue or tax levy secured for the building program.
Funk told the board of education Tuesday that $1.3 million of that money can be transferred back into the general fund and used to reduce this year's projected deficit to $2.7 million.
The Rev. Michael Write, board president, said the district has to be cautious about moving that money back into the general fund. The board has to be prepared for any contingencies that might boost the cost of construction on buildings still on the program list, he said.
As the program now stands, work has been completed on four buildings and is under way at five others. Five more are being redesigned as smaller structures as a result of the project downsizing.
Teacher cutbacks
In other matters, the board approved a list of 57 teachers who have been told they likely will be furloughed next school year and eight others who have been told they definitely won't have a job.
The board approved the lists without comment as part of an effort to cut back on a deficit expected to be nearly $20 million next year.
The board approved a spending reduction plan that will eliminate 100 jobs and cut back on materials and supplies and other spending, resulting in a savings of nearly $8.7 million.
Included on that list are 70 teacher and teacher-on-special-assignment positions, three building principals, four utility administrators, five central office administrative positions, one central office secretarial post and 17 nonteaching staff jobs.
That still leaves a projected $11.9 million deficit for next year, and school officials have said a five-year tax levy is a strong possibility for the November election ballot.
Funk has said it could require a double-digit levy to eliminate the red ink.
It would be a temporary funding measure as the school district retrenches to meet reduced enrollments and lower utility costs because of new, energy-efficient construction and fewer buildings, officials have said.
Although the total number of teachers on the furlough lists is 65, the district won't be able to actually lay off more than 56, based on the district's contract with the Youngstown Education Association.
There are 796 teachers in the district, and their contract prohibits that number from going any lower than 740.
Retirements
William Bagnola, YEA president, said it is hoped that the actual number of furloughs will be less than 56. That depends on retirements, he said.
The district hopes to get at least 30 teachers to retire at the end of this school year, and the board approved a list of 18 teacher retirements and three teacher resignations Tuesday.
Funk said the 70 teacher and teacher-on-special-assignment cuts will be a mixture of retirements and furloughs.
Superintendent Wendy Webb said the job eliminations were carefully crafted to allow the district to maintain its academic programs and offerings. The cutbacks are based on enrollment, not programs, she added.
gwin@vindy.com