FLOYD COUNTY —
Nearly 20 students, teachers, parents and concerned citizens took the podium and addressed the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation’s Board of Trustees Monday night.
They knew budget cuts were on the agenda and pleaded for any solution that didn’t lead to losing teachers’ positions or programs such as art, physical education and music from elementary schools or anywhere else.
“I know these are hard times, but I beg you to find other ways to save money,” David Longest, New Albany High School theater director, said.
He said cutting the arts in any way from the elementary level would only make award-winning programs at higher levels suffer in the future.
After hearing the plan to reduce the budget by $2.2 million, the board accepted the plan unanimously, which includes cutting nearly 70 teaching positions and 13 administrative and operational assignments.
Of those reductions, four full-time elementary employees will receive reduction in force notices, and 19.8 teaching positions in elementary art, music and physical education will be cut.
Roger Whaley, board president, told the crowd those subjects will be included in the classrooms of regular teachers, but many crowd members told the board they thought dedicated teachers need to fill those positions to adequately teach those subjects.
Amber Schultz, a 2010 graduate of Floyd Central High School, said if it weren’t for her arts classes in K-12, she wouldn’t have pursued the field in college.
“Artists are inspired by other artists,” Shultz said. She said her interest in arts helped her earn a scholarship.
Cuts at higher levels are also included in the plan. Two positions from each of the corporation’s middle schools will receive RIF notices, as well as 8.5 positions between the two high schools.
Additionally, one paid assistant coach from each boys’ and girls’ team will also be eliminated.
The reduction plan says the corporation is spending about $6.25 million more than it’s receiving in new annual revenue.
Though the cuts from the state are at about $650,000 for 2012 and 2013, other contributing problems include raises for staff that exceed the amount of new revenue for the corporation, increasing insurance costs, falling student enrollment and state reduction of the corporation’s budget to less than 2006 levels.
Neal Smith, board member, said he thought a referendum from the public would be something considered by the board to help in the future.
If voted in, a referendum would place a levy on the assessed value of homes in the county for seven years.
Deputy Superintendent Brad Snyder said that could only be a temporary fix if voters decide not to impose the tax on themselves after the seven-year term was over.
But as the plan stands, Superintendent Bruce Hibbard said if the economy doesn’t improve and there aren’t any new sources of revenue for the corporation, a similar decision will likely be made this time next year.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” Hibbard said. “There is still more to cut.”
Hibbard said the cuts weren’t judged on what was important for the corporation, but what was necessary, including mathematics and reading literacy.
D.J. Hines, board member, said he hoped the public would remember how difficult the decision was for the board.
“I hope you don’t feel the cabinet or administration are enemies,” Hines said. “They just have the task at hand to balance the budget.”
The board will send out the RIF notices Thursday. At the next board meeting, scheduled for April 18, the board will vote on who will get cut from their positions.
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