Benton schools announce teacher cuts

Fowler, Ind. - It's a familiar story by now:   reduced state funding means budget cuts, this time for the Benton Community School Corporation.

It was standing room only with many people forced out into the hallway at the school board meeting. Everyone waited for the vote on phase one of a three part cost savings plan. It includes nine teacher layoffs, reductions in elementary art, music, and physical education (PE) by half (to one time a week), and cutting 10-15 assistant coaches for extra curricular activities.

"The kids will lose their programs. Not completely, but the programs will be downsized," said Scott Robertson, President of the Benton Education Association, the teachers' union.

The school board unanimously adopted the plan. Community members and teachers left frustrated.

"We're very disappointed. They went through with the cuts. We knew what they were looking at few weeks ago but we hoped they would wait a year so we could pinpoint some savings," said Robertson.

"I really think there are a lot of benefits to PE. The children of all states need that time in school," said Kevin Richards, a Purdue Physical Education graduate student who spoke at the meeting and asked the board to save physical education.

The district lost more than a half a million dollars in funding from the state.  Superintendent Ross Sloat said new legislation passed at the state house that allows districts to transfer money between funds won't help the school corporation. It's less money then what the district has already been moving around to cover bills. Some requested the district to use its rainy day fund to cover the costs of teachers and programs.

"The board is choosing not to use it not to tap into it right now. Of course it is looking to the future but we hope the state will come through in a few years and really put education where it needs to be," said Robertson.

Sloat said he doesn't want to see the rainy day fund dry up.

"Our deficit spending increases so quickly it will soon be over $1 million a year and the $4 million reserve will only last several years. We're trying to protect it for the future," explained Sloat.

But educators and parents worry with reductions to elementary art, music and physical education students' interest in school could dry up. The district said programs would be brought back as funding returns. Teachers will receive layoff notices by April 1. Layoffs will be finalized at the April 19 school board meeting.

Here's a detailed look at the three phase cost savings plan according to documents from the Benton Community School Corporation:

PHASE 1

Academics

Eliminate one elementary counselor.
Eliminate one special education aide.
Reduce Boswell librarian to half time.
Reduce class aides from 6.5 hours a day to 6 hours.
Reduce choir teacher contract from seven periods a day to five periods.
Reduce band teacher contract from seven periods a day to five periods.
Reduce elementary art, music, and PE from two times a week to one time a week.

Savings: $259,807

Extra-curricular

Reduce athletic transportation payment.
Eliminate field trips.
Propose athletic and extra-curricular activity reductions. (10-15 assistant coaches eliminated.)

Savings: $68,722

Benefits

Outsource weekend events to reduce custodian and maintenance overtime.
Eliminate paid holidays for secretarial staff.
Offer certified retirement incentive. A one time payment of $20,000.
No Public Employee Retirement Fund for aides. (Current aides grandfathered.)
Eliminate corporation contributions for secretarial staff health insurance premiums. (Current staff grandfathered.)

Savings: $140,735

Facilities

Continue energy cost avoidance.
Outsource cleaning at corporation office.
Reduce one four hour custodian at Prairie Crossing Elementary.
Go to a four day work week in the summer for utility savings.

Savings: $132,201

Indirect Costs and Miscellaneous

Increase indirect costs from Cafeteria Fund.
Reduce printing costs of Faculty Directory.
Go to paperless paychecks.

Savings: $9,024

Total Phase 1 Savings: $610,488

PHASE 2

Expected in 2011

Administration reductions $ 60,154
Transportation reductions $ 4,000
Academic reductions $ 89,113
Move to an 8 period day at Benton Central $134,686
Reduce extra-curricular activities $ 81,711

Total Phase 2 Savings: $369, 664

PHASE 3

Expected in 2012

Reduce remaining extra-curricular activities $190,660
Close Boswell Elementary $425,000
Close swimming pool $ 25,700
Eliminate swimming coaches $ 13,279

Total Phase 3 Savings: $654,639

Total Savings of Phases 1, 2 & 3: $1,634,791

Other Cost Saving Considerations

Review property and casualty insurance
Consider self insuring workman's comp
Sell technology building
Eliminate all color copying
Paperless school board information packets
Layoff of following positions because of uncertain enrollment for 2010-2011
-Kindergarten and split classes

2009 General Fund Expense & Revenue

Regular Revenue $12,995,916
Expenses $13,366,718
Total -$ 307,802
Stimulus Money $ 93,358
Windmill Grants $ 175,364
(Money Benton County received from wind farm companies for economic development.)
Net -$ 102,080

2010 General Fund (Projected)

Regular Revenue $12,401,936
Expenses $13,757,955
Total -$ 1,356,019
Stimulus $ 262,856
Windmill Grants $ 540,453
Net -$ 552,710
Phase in savings plan $ 253,833
Adjusted deficit -$ 298,877

2011 General Fund (Projected)

Regular Revenue $12,417,836
Expenses $14,136,299
Total -$ 1,718,463
Stimulus $ 0
Windmill Grants $ 540,453
Net $ 1,178,010
Phase in savings plan $ 733,703
Adjusted deficit -$ 444,302

2012 General Fund (Projected)

Regular Revenue $12,421,998
Expenses $14,525,047
Total -$ 2,103,049
Stimulus $ 0
Windmill Grants $ 458,742
Net -$ 1,644,307
Phase in savings plan $ 1,198,545
Adjusted deficit -$ 445,762

2013 General Fund (Projected)

Regular Revenue $12,546,218
Expenses $14,924,486
Total -$ 2,378,268
Stimulus $ 0
Windmill Grants $ 229,103
Net -$ 2,149,165
Phase in savings plan $ 1,634,791
Adjusted deficit -$ 514,374

Programs Supported by Windmill Grants in 2010

Credit Recovery
Alert Now Notification System
Elementary Interventionist Shortfall
Otterbein half time librarian
Reading Specialist at Otterbein
Remaining extra-curricular and athletic positions
Supply and travel budgets
After school transportation
Swimming pool and coaches
Green house
Building Trades Program
Auto Mechanics Program
Agricultural Program