Cut 376 jobs; save $17M

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — City school officials say that a state audit recommending some $17 million in spending cuts, largely through job eliminations, is just that — a recommendation.

Nothing in the audit is carved in stone, said Dr. Wendy Webb, superintendent.

The performance audit prepared by the Ohio auditor gives school officials “another set of eyes” to examine the district’s financial situation, she said, adding that some items found in the document are things the district has been looking at for the past two years and some are already being implemented.

The audit itself points out that its recommendations are things for the city school district to consider.

“A performance audit is a valuable tool for school district leaders,” said Ohio Auditor Mary Taylo. “The recommendations made in the audit report could help school officials improve the efficiency of district operations.”

The document says the financially strapped Youngstown City School District can reduce spending by more than $17 million a year by eliminating 376 jobs and making other internal changes in operations.

The audit, released Thursday, recommends that the job cuts be made across the board, targeting 26 administrative positions, 118 teachers and scores of others, including nurses, curriculum specialists, custodians, maintenance workers, teacher aides, secretaries and more.

Some of those cuts area already in place, Webb said, explaining that the district cut 92 jobs last year that would be part of the 376 recommended in the audit.

However, making all of the cuts recommended by the audit would destroy the district’s academic programs, she warned.

Protecting academics while reducing spending is a primary goal of the school board as it seeks to return the district to solvency, said Shelley Murray, board president.

Webb pointed out that, in the area of administration cuts, the audit proposed cutting eight posts in human resources. The district has already cut five of them, she said.

Cuts in custodial staff and transportation are already in the works as the district reduces the size and number of its buildings and looks to cut pupil transportation expenses, she added.

Even if all of the recommendations were imposed, the district would still need some additional financing through a tax levy, Webb said.

The state placed Youngstown under fiscal emergency in November 2006 after the district began running a deficit that amounted to $15 million in fiscal 2007.

Youngstown borrowed that amount from the state but is still spending more than it is taking in and may have to borrow an additional $6 million to $8 million this year.

The district has already imposed some $19 million in spending cuts (primarily through job reductions) over the past two years and has outlined plans for $4 million in additional reductions for next fiscal year. Total job cuts so far stand at 320, leaving the district with 1,205 employees.

Youngstown has also been trying to persuade voters to approve a five-year, 9.5-mill tax levy that would generate about $5.2 million in new revenue. The levy has been rejected twice and is on the ballot again in March.

Murray said the effort by the district to recover financially is a work in progress, and the board, which is working on the issue through various committees, will consider the audit recommendations.

In addition to the job cuts, the audit recommends that all employees be required to pay 10 percent of their health care premium cost, saving the district around $1.5 million. Only administrators contribute at that level at this time. Most employees contribute 5 percent.

The audit also suggests that formal energy management policies and procedures be implemented to save some $400,000 in energy costs.

gwin@vindy.com