Lafayette schools save teachers

West Lafayette, Ind. (WLFI) - The Lafayette School Corporation faces cuts in several different areas. 

The school board received a summary of how much each school fund will be reduced. The cuts total almost $2 million cut from the state in the district's general fund that mostly goes to pay for teachers.

Parent Karen Demerly asked the school board what she can do to help soften the blow.

"I would like to be part of the solution and also direct my efforts where they think they will do the most good," said Demerly.

Superintendent Ed Eiler told her to contact her state legislators and let them know why the cuts hurt. The district will not lay off teachers or staff. Instead it developed a list of 20 cost saving measures including:

• reducing overtime
• postage
• substitute use
• cutting summer softball, baseball, and gymnastics for junior high students
• closing Oakland Elementary next fall 

Oakland is the fourth school in five years LSC closed. Deputy Superintendent Robert Foreman said consolidating schools helped the district cut costs, putting it in a better financial position now then most corporations.

"There are some savings you can can realize because of staff reductions, of support staff reductions, reduction of administration that has really helped us this year," said Foreman.

The district will also have to find savings in two other areas: the Capital Projects and Transportation Funds. Capital Projects will lose almost $10,000 and transportation was cut $120,000 because of property tax caps.

"We projected our anticipated need in the transportation fund for 2010. Because there is a maximum levy our projected expenses are beyond that," added Foreman.

The district is still deciding how to cut transportation expenses without cutting bus routes or field trips.