Schools

Schools Look at Cutting Language Classes, Industrial Arts, Busing, Gifted and Talented, Much More

Regardless of levy, district must reduce budget by at least $4 million before next school year

Strongsville Schools must cut at least $4 million from its budget for the 2011-12 school year -- and probably more, depending on how much funding the district gets from the state, officials said.

On the chopping block are supplemental contracts for elementary and middle school teachers that would eliminate most extra-curricular clubs, custodians, clerks in elementary schools, foreign language classes in the middle schools, industrial arts classes, media specialists and -- potentially -- busing for all students who live less than 2 miles from school, the gifted and talented program and guidance counselors.

"It certainly is a devastating list (of cuts)," Assistant Superintendent John Krupinski said.

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He and Superintendent Jeff Lampert laid out their initial recommendations for how to chop at least $4 million from the district's budget, which Treasurer Bill Parkinson said is necessary regardless of how the 9.9-mill levy fares at the polls this year.

If the levy does not pass during 2011, the district will have to cut another $3.5 million, Parkinson said.

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"As bad as this is, there could be a lot more things being cut," he said.

Lampert and Krupinski also unveiled their suggestions for cutting an additional $1.8 million if predictions on state funding reductions are true. Lampert said there are indications Ohio could slash funding for school districts 20 percent next school year, which in Strongsville would translate to $1.8 million.

The School Board must ultimately approve the cuts. Board members said Monday night they may want to adjust some of the recommendations.

"The state is not going to fund 'excellent' any more," board member Carl Naso said, referring to the district's grade on Ohio report cards. "They're going to fund average or below average."

More than half of the $4 million budget reduction -- about $2.6 million -- will come from concessions from teachers in their -- ratified this week by the Strongsville Education Association -- and early retirements. Officials said 36 teachers have taken advantage of an early retirement incentive offered by the district this year.

Other potential cuts to reach $4 million include:

• Elementary school supplemental contracts ($38,400) that would eliminate all clubs and activities other than student council.

• Middle school and high school team and department chair supplementals ($14,700).

• Middle school supplementals ($10,300) other than student council.

• One custodian ($75,400).

• One assistant head custodian at the high school ($72,300).

• Seven clerks in the elementary schools ($300,000) leaving one secretary per building.

• Middle school German and French classes ($94,700), leaving only Spanish.

• Three media specialists ($201,600), leaving one to serve the high school and middle schools and one for elementary schools.

• Three members of the grounds crew staff ($117,700), leaving six.

• Buildings and deparment budgets ($220,000).

"It's brutal -- there's no other way of putting it," Naso said.

If the state cuts funding 20 percent, the other $1.8 million could come from:

• Cutting all elementary school supplementals, including student council ($55,700)

• Reorganizing and reassigning board office staff ($200,000).

• Cutting all middle school language classes ($366,600).

• Cutting all but one media specialist ($281,600) which would reflect the state minimum.

• Cutting all industrial arts and business classes at the middle schools and high school ($281,600)

• Eliminating three guidance counselors ($237,400).

• Eliminating the gifted and talented program ($440,000)

• Cutting busing for students who live within two miles of their school ($500,000), resulting in eliminating 20 bus driver positions.

Several board members said it appears elementary schools may be taking the brunt of the cuts and asked administrators to consider shifting more of the burden to the high school.

Other possible cuts mentioned for consideration include middle school sports, all field trips and the lunch program, as well as closing the school buildings at 4 p.m. every day.

"This is a work in progress," Lampert said.

Other than cuts, some ways to generate more revenue are also possible, including raising the general education fee and implementing higher pay-to-participate fees for athletics and other extra-curriculars. Currently, athletic pay-to-play fees generate about $110,000 a year, while high school and middle school sports cost $480,000 in supplemental contract fees, Krupinski said.

"We're tying to keep the core as long as we possible can," he said. "We begin to peel away at programs as we get deeper into deficit situations."

The school board is expected to discuss the cuts further at its April work session.


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