Teachers Worried About School Cuts

A high school Spanish teacher urged school officials this week not to cut the middle school language program, saying it won't save money in the long run.

Vicki Kellar, who teaches at Strongsville High School, spoke before the  April 19, reminding officials that the last time the middle school foreign language program was cut in 2007, the district achieved short-term gains only then to incur losses the next year. 

“That year, we did indeed achieve cost savings of four teachers,” Kellar said. “However, the following year, we had to add four more teachers and borrow partial teachers from other departments. We wound up behind. How? The students who had wanted to take level one language at the middle school did not go away. They enrolled in those classes at the high school, joining those who were already enrolled.” 

“We had simply moved students or teacher costs from one building to another from one year to the next.” 

But Superintendent Jeff Lampert said the cuts -- about $6.3 million -- are necessary.

“We’ve tried very hard to protect the academic core of our district,” Lampert said. “At least with language, it’s certainly an important concept, but at least with that particular subject there’s a chance for the students to recoup it in high school.” 

“But (making cuts) is a necessary thing we have to do to keep our district solid, and as we’ve said, these are not enjoyable decisions to make. It’s painful to make these cuts, but we need to be fiscally prudent to overcome these harsh economic times.” 

Officials said if a is approved at a special election Aug. 2, more cuts can be averted and some of the slashed programs and employees may be returned. There is also a 9.9-mill levy on the May 3 primary ballot, but the school board said last week that if that is defeated at the polls, the smaller levy would be enough to keep the district's budget out of the red for four years.

In other news at the April 19 school board meeting, Strongsville High School  principal William Steffen honored nine commended National Merit students and recognized this year’s only finalist — Sam Blankenship. 

Out of the 1.3 million students who vie for National Merit honors each year, only about .3 percent become finalists, Steffen said. 

“I’d just like to take this opportunity to both personally and on behalf of my fellow students thank all of our exceptional teachers. Without them, this would not have been possible,” Blankenship said.