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Fiscal commission to scrutinize proposed cuts of $1.2 million for schools in Liberty
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Watson
Liberty
Budget cuts to personnel in any institution are never easy.
But, as Liberty Superintendent Stan Watson explains, in education they are even more of a strain.
“In most industries, it’s ‘We’re going to lay off some people and cut production,’” he said. “ We can’t do that. We have to maintain the same level of production with fewer people.”
On Jan. 23, Watson presented a $1.2 million deficit-reduction plan to the board of education. The plan, which the board unanimously approved, could result in the loss of 16.5 positions, but they are jobs that still need to be done.
“We will be using absolutely every resource that we can,” said Pam McCurdy, the district’s curriculum director.
She said the cuts mean people remaining will bear more responsibility, filling vacant gaps.
The fiscal commission charged with guiding the school district out of fiscal emergency will decide at its 11 a.m. meeting today to either approve or alter the district’s proposed cuts.
Specifically, the plan calls for the elimination of two administration officials and 7.5 teaching positions. It also called for changing some positions from full time to part time.
Roger Hardin, who is pro tem chairman of the commission for today’s meeting while the permanent Chairman Roger Nehls deals with personal matters, said as far as teaching staff goes, the commission will not advise the district on where it can and cannot remove teachers.
“We leave that up to the district,” Hardin said. “They have a much better idea of what is needed.”
Watson said he expects most of the teaching staff cuts to come from E.J. Blott Elementary, a school that has 22 teachers paid by the district and 4 paid by federal funds. He said the cuts will increase class sizes, but state law prevents classroom sizes from exceeding 25 students.
“We’re going to be flirting with that number in some of the classrooms,” Watson said.
Charleen Lazzeri, president of the Liberty teachers union, said the union would not release a statement until the cuts were made official by the commission.
“We’re just kind of living day to day,” Lazzeri said.
They still are working under an expired 2008 contract.
The district currently has a $1.9 million deficit, leaving about a $700,000 shortfall between the proposed cuts and solvency. That leaves the district with either increasing revenue or cutting more from its $17 million budget.
“That’s what we’re going to try and define: Are they overspending or underfunded?” Hardin said.
A necessary step in the fiscal-emergency process is that the district place a new levy on the ballot for each year it is in deficit. But Liberty is a community that has turned down five levies in the past 10 years.
Sharon Hanrahan, the state’s Office of Budget and Management representative for the commission, said it was smart fiscally and tactically to make such a large cut up front.
Hanrahan said the move displays to residents that the district is willing to make drastic cuts. In turn, she said, residents may be more willing to meet them half way by supporting a levy.
Hanrahan expects much discussion before the commission votes on the deficit reduction plan.
The district gave “us the numbers,” she said. “Now we want to know the effect of those numbers.”
Watson and McCurdy already are looking to next school year and its class schedule, examining where they can trim.
“The bottom line is we’ve got to perform,” Watson said. “We’re not looking at it as an excuse.”