During Monday’s, June 22, meeting of the Geneva District 304 School Board, members voted 5-0 to cut 3.6 full-time equivalent teachers, support staffers and hours for a total savings of $423,800.
Two full-time teachers who retired at the elementary level will not be replaced; the equivalent of one middle school teacher was cut; and the equivalent of .6 full-time high school teachers were cut. This will result in $198,000 being saved on teaching staff for the 2009-10 school year.
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Changes for 2009-10 - Middle School cuts and adds: 0.2 from art, science, French, Spanish, family/consumer science and German; 0.2 added to special education - High School cuts and adds: 0.6 from business education; 0.2 from independent technologies, math and French; one full-time equivilent added to physical education and social studies; 0.4 added to Spanish - Contingency and substitute cuts: Long-term substitute teacher daily wages have been cut from $215 to $175, and the staff contingency has been cut from $200,000 to $150,000 for a total reduction of $120,000 - Educational support staff cuts and adds: A part-time assistant has been cut from each elementary building, which will save $63,000; the vision and hearing nurse had their hours cut from 18 a week to six a week to save $8,600; and 1.5 special education assistants have been added at a cost of $19,000 - Transportation staff: Five full-time equivalent bus drivers were cut earlier this year, which saves $53,200 |
Cutting full-time equivalent means the hours of 3.6 teachers throughout the district will be cut.
New board member Mark Grosso said after the meeting that as he understands it, they will be cutting hours at the middle school and high school level rather than cutting staff.
“(It seems like) they’re taking away some of the courses taught by part-time teachers,” Grosso said.
While a large amount was cut from support staff, District 304 also added $19,000 in special education assistants. District officials said this is due to the rise in special education children in District 304.
Craig Collins, assistant superintendent for human resources at District 304, said the times made officials consider these changes.
“The economy necessitates we take a very close look at staffing and what it might be,” Collins said.
Collins said the numbers released are resting on the assumptions that staffing levels at Fabyan Elementary School will be consistent with other district schools. It also assumes no new teachers will be hired and no new educational programs will be added. He said they will examine growth and student class selection to see if new hires may be needed.
“(District 304 is) a district that has been very prudent in adding staff,” Collins said.
When questioned by Grosso on if they would bring new hires in front of the board, Collins said the need to hire new staff members may not be known until July or August when students begin to register. Officials are not anticipating adding any at the time, but Collins said they will bring new hires to the board’s attention as soon as they can.
“We concluded that given the economy and the way it is,” Collins said, “It’s difficult to predict with the same certainty as we have in the past what enrollment will be like in certain buildings.”
Board members Matt Henry and Kelly Nowak were absent from the meeting.
Questioning Fabyan
During discussion about the 2009-10 staffing plan, board member Leslie Juby questioned the opening of Fabyan Elementary School this year.
“In light of our slowing student growth and in light of the economy, I’m wondering if it would be prudent to hold its (opening) to next year,” Juby said.
Juby said there are still open seats in other schools. She compared the opening to a bad wedding, saying just because it’s scheduled to happen doesn’t mean it has to.
“I know it’s difficult because we’ve already hired staff,” Juby said. “(But it’s) something to consider.”
Board member Mark Grosso agreed with Juby.
“Maybe we should discuss that,” Grosso said. “I don’t know how late in the game it is.”
Board member Mary Stith said it’s late in the game at this point, especially with them signing Principal Darcy Thompson to a contract.
District 304 Superintendent Kent Mutchler said having Fabyan open allows the district to grow. He said opening the school will allow officials to bring in students they have sent away in the past.
“We’ve kept our number of staff down at Fabyan,” Mutchler said.
Mutchler said with taking Coltrap Elementary offline this year, the district will save money.
New conference
The board unanimously voted Geneva High School into the Update 8 Conference, which includes high schools such as St. Charles East and North high schools.
“They have more activities,” Mutchler said, but he added just because they have more does not mean Geneva High School will have to participate in more.
Grosso asked what expenses the district will incur by joining the new conference, and Mutchler said joining new activities will be up to the board.
