If the Board of Education doesn’t receive an increase in its budget for 2011 – 2012, about 35 jobs could be in jeopardy.
That was a worst-case scenario floated by Superintendent Freeman Burr Thursday evening during his first presentation of the school budget proposal.
Burr presented two budget scenarios to the Board of Education finance committee. The finance committee did not vote on either proposal, and instead asked Burr to rework some items before presenting the plan to the full board next week.
Burr said his goal is to “maintain stability” in a rocky economy.
“We endured such great impact last year, it is important for us to create an atmosphere of stability,” Burr told the finance committee, referring to the 122 jobs eliminated in last year’s budget and a redistricting for most of the elementary schools.
The Numbers
The numbers presented Thursday will likely change as more up-to-date unemployment figures are released and as Burr makes requested changes to the proposal.
However, the proposal’s first draft outlines a general financial picture of where the schools may be next year.
Scenario #1 outlined the district’s “level services” budget, which Burr said would cover all the items that exist in the current year’s budget, except for 10 tutor positions.
Because of increases in salary, health care and bus contract costs, as well as unemployment payments, the “level services” budget would cost about $1.59 million more than the current year’s budget, Burr said.
The “level services” budget for 2011 – 2012 is projected at $64.7 million. The current year’s budget is $63.1 million. Burr said the proposal accounts for cost savings in electricity bills and anticipated federal grants.
Scenario #2 is the district’s guess at what would happen if the city does not increase its allocation over this year’s funding level. That was the case for two years between 2008 and 2010. And last year, the city gave an increase of only $95,000.
Burr said a budget of about $63 million would mean two central office job cuts, and 23 cuts to certified staff at the schools — mostly teachers. Four of those positions would be cut solely to pay for the unemployment costs associated with the layoffs.
Add in the 10 tutor positions the district will likely cut, and you’ve got a possibility of 35 jobs gone next year, Burr said.
Burr said while the possible number of cuts is not as bad as last year, “It’s still significant.”
“We feel we’re at a bare bones budget and if we’re going to cut, we’re cutting into the marrow,” Burr said.
Unemployment
A major concern — and wild card — in the budget planning is unemployment costs.
As of Nov. 30, the district had 91 former employees filing for unemployment benefits, Burr said.
This year, under funding set up by the city in May, those costs come out of the city’s side of the budget. But the Board of Education is typically responsible for paying unemployment costs and is placing the number in its budget proposal for next year.
Projecting that about 70 people will still be unemployed next year, Burr accounted for $980,000 in his budget proposal.
Concerns
Board of Education members Thursday said they were concerned that the proposal doesn’t include any items to restore lost or needed programs. Burr presented a cost list for the programs — such as district-funded athletics and lost guidance counselors — but didn’t include them in the budget.
“The most critical thing we can do right now is stabilize the district,” Burr said.
But board members said they wouldn’t be representing the children fairly if they didn’t at least try to get money for important programs.
Member Win Oppel hypothetically asked if closing another school would save money. Burr said he opposed to the idea because the disruption would outweigh any cost savings.
Chairman Tim Walsh asked Burr to put together another proposal that includes restoring two media specialists and four guidance counselors that were lost in last year’s budget crunch.
Together the two additions would cost about $500,000.
Arlene Liscinsky, chairman of the finance committee, said the board has been fiscally responsible and has made “drastic sacrifices.”
She said the board needs to make it clear to voters what the district could be facing.
“I think we tell the general public: You’re on notice,” Liscinsky said. “There are no surprises.”
The finance committee will meet again next week before the full Board of Education meeting Wednesday.
