Spokane7
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May 12, 2009 in City
Spokane Public Schools unveils draft budget
Job, program cuts among considerations
Developmentally impaired students could be divided between two Spokane high schools, closer to their homes, rather than bused to a central location. Savings: $390,000.
Twelve teaching positions used to help at-risk high school and middle school students could be eliminated. Savings: $710,000.
If Spokane administrators give up two days of pay, it could save $100,000.
Those are among the proposed cuts in a working draft of the Spokane Public Schools’ budget. The document outlines how the administration plans to close an $8.8 million gap, including the previously announced potential elimination of dozens of teaching positions next year.
The plan will be presented at a community forum tonight and Thursday.
Questions remain over use of federal stimulus and levy equalization dollars, so the bottom line remains uncertain, officials said.
“It could wave $1 million either way,” said Mark Anderson, associate superintendent.
With more than 80 percent of the district’s budget going to personnel costs, Anderson said it’s challenging to find other cost savings. The district has budgeted $255.4 million of its $308.2 million budget for personnel.
“What we want people to understand is that Spokane is not suddenly having a problem,” Anderson said. The state cut $12 million in funding for teachers, and the district is having to make up that money, he said.
Pink slips will go out to dozens of teachers in the district today. However, officials maintain they plan to rehire all but about 40 of them. The estimated savings is $1.6 million.
Moving the developmentally impaired students from the Libby Center into Shadle and Ferris high schools saves money because it reduces some special education staff and lowers transportation costs, officials said.
Other possibilities include reducing caterings for staff events, limiting travel, reducing the number of district-paid cell phones (currently 195), reducing clerical, security and technical positions, delaying the painting of school buildings, eliminating leased office space and suspending a mentor teaching program.
Anderson said the district should be able to carry over about $2.1 million from this year’s budget. The reduction in gas prices and new, more energy-efficient buildings contributed to that savings.
What the district wants to hear from people at the forums, officials said, is what to save, if they can, and where to find other cost savings if more cuts are needed.
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eagleproducer on May 12 at 9:18 a.m.
The superintendent of District 81 makes more money than the governor. In fact, she is paid at a higher rate than all but nine governors. This, despite the fact the everyone of the high schools has failed to meet AYP as required by No Child Left Behind and the district has an overall drop out rate over 30%. Why is such abysmal performance being rewarded so handsomely?
Drop in at the District office any day and see 10 people doing the work required of one organized individual.
SpokaneCitizen on May 12 at 3:04 p.m.
Sad that teachers who have sacrificed much to devote their lives to teaching are laid off, yet has anyone totaled up the amount of “Goal” pay amounts the supervisors get above their already inflated salaries?
It would pay for dozens of teachers, perhaps they should list that in the budget and not hide it
Why have they hidden this amount, and offer to lose two days pay, when they get thousands each for “Goal Pay” for a job they should do anyway… .