NEW ALBANY —  

This past Monday several members of One Southern Indiana’s Public Policy Council met with Dr. Bruce Hibbard, NA-FC Schools Superintendent, to discuss the options available to deal with a $6.6 million revenue shortfall. The choices boiled down to:

1. Lay off teachers.

2. Request a tax increase from the citizens.

3. Avoid having to do one of (or both of) the first two choices by instead examining expenses, looking for cost efficiencies and making tough, cost-cutting choices — thereby saving classroom instruction positions and increasing academic achievement.

Dr. Hibbard and his staff have, through their research and analysis, stepped up, made some tough choices, and have presented plan No. 3. As a result of the current economic downturn, most of our member businesses have already gone through these same kinds of tough organizational decisions, and though painful, they too have made budget-cutting steps necessary for the health and sustainability of their enterprises. We believe the same holds true for our public schools. Thus, I am writing to express One Southern Indiana’s support for Dr. Hibbard’s proposal, and ask that the NA-FC School Board implement its Superintendent’s recommendations.

While none of us want to face budget cuts, the recession has made that a moot point — we have to face the facts. The economy has contracted, businesses have had to adjust, and, correspondingly, tax receipts have decreased. That being the situation, no one wants to decrease the quality of education for our youth. Dr. Hibbard’s passion is academics, and it’s clearly his goal to raise the academic achievement of NA-FC schools and children. Accordingly, his budget-cutting plan seeks to maintain instructional assets by cutting back primarily on non-instructional support and increasing efficiencies. As taxpayers, we commend his effort to squeeze the most bang out of each buck.

What Dr. Hibbard has proposed took courage. He fully knows the school closures he’s proposing will touch an emotional nerve in the surrounding neighborhoods. However, each piece of his proposal is supported by the facts and the numbers. (In fact, similar cuts were previously proposed by a previous task force study.) Moreover, his proposal actually increases instructional time and student learning opportunities. Cost-cutting is difficult, but these measures will ensure taxpayer dollars are focused on supporting the classroom instructors and students.

For these reasons, we support Dr. Hibbard’s proposal, ask that it be given the fullest consideration, and respectfully request it be implemented.

Sincerely,

Michael Dalby, President