By PETER HUSSMANN
The Newton Board of Education was presented a preliminary set of recommendations at its meeting Monday evening that calls for the closing of an as-yet-to-be-identified elementary school, realignment of the use of the remaining buildings, more than 30 staff cuts and an estimated savings of more than $1.8 million heading into the next school year and a total topping $1.9 million in the next two years.
Newton School Superintendent presented the preliminary recommendations as part of the district's look at ways to adjust its educational delivery system in the face of declining enrollments and state budget cuts.
School board members took no action on the recommendations on Monday but plan to do so at its next meeting March 22. The board is required to finalize its budget by April 15 with layoff notices sent to staff by April 30.
The proposed staff cuts include personnel working in all facets of the Newton school system in all grade levels. However, the recommendation includes the elimination of three elementary school classroom teaching positions for the next school year that will be need to made regardless of any action taken by the board in connection with the budget cut proposals due to elementary school section reductions.
McDermott noted that many of the positions proposed for elimination may be met through attrition.
"We can make these reductions and still provide an excellent education for our kids," he said.
Following is a list of the preliminary budget alignment measures, including the estimated cost savings:
2010-2011 Reductions
Elementary Classroom Teaching Positions (3 FTE) - $180,000
Elementary Level Subtotal Before Realignment - $180,000
Proposed Cuts with School Closure
and Elementary Realignment
Elementary Guidance (1 FTE) - $60,000
Elementary Specials Teaching Positions - $180,000
Elementary Principal (1 FTE) - $100,000
Elementary Secretary (1 FTE) - $35,000
Elementary Nurse Para. (1 FTE) - $12,000
Elementary Custodian (1.5 FTE) - $47,500
Utilities (Lowest of 3 Elems) - $66,000
Food Service (Lowest of 3 Elems) - $17,000
Maintenance (Lowest of 3 Elems) - $60,000
Classroom Teaching Position (1 FTE) - $72,000
Para-Pro Positions (2 FTE) - $24,000
Power Reading Teachers (2 FTE) - $120,000
Elementary Subtotal - $793,500
High School Proposed Cuts
Social Studies (1 FTE) - $60,000
Family & Consumer Science (1 FTE) - $60,000
Guidance (.5 FTE) - $30,000
Special Education (2 FTE) - $120,000
Language Arts (1 FTE) - $60,000
Volleyball Coaching (1) - $2,500
Soccer Coaches (2) - $5,000
Career Center Para. (1 FTE) - $12,000
Credit Recovery Para (1 FTE) - $12,000
Administrator (.25) - $10,000
High School Subtotal - $371,500
Middle School Proposed Cuts
Assistant Principal (.5 FTE) - $48,000
Language Arts (1 FTE) - $60,000
Industrial Technology (1 FTE) - $60,000
Special Education (1 FTE) - $60,000
Library Para. (.4 FTE) - $10,000
Music (1 FTE) - $65,000
Track Coaches (2) - $3,500
Middle School Subtotal - $306,500
District-wide Proposed Cuts
Support Position - $15,000
Maintenance Position (1 FTE) - $55,000
Curricular Expenses* - $150,000
Professional Development - $20,000
District Level Subtotal - $240,000
2010-2011 Subtotal - $1,891,500
2011-2012 Reductions
Central Office (1 FTE) - $105,000
District Level Subtotal - $105,000
Total - $1,996,500
* The $150,000 in curricular expenses identified will be spent in this fiscal year's budget eliminating the need for the expenditure in the next fiscal year, school officials said.
Recent Comments