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I want to talk to you.
a message from Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones
If you were on fall break last week, I truly hope it was restful and fun for you.
On Friday of fall break week, principals, assistant principals and central office department heads met in a Symposium in the Learning Center. Then the next day, Saturday, October 15, the board of education and cabinet members met for the board's fall retreat in our board meeting room.
In addition to the talking about the strategic plan, we discussed the FY13 budget and options to meet the projected $6 million shortfall.
As you know the 170 day school calendar for 2012-2013 is one way we have proposed to meet at least $3 million of the shortfall. That proposal, if accepted by the board, includes 10 work-adjustment days for all employees. (The 170-day proposed calendar takes those days into account so there are no additional work adjustment days planned at this time.)
We have been gathering ideas for the additional $3 million in cuts since the principals' meeting on September 15. At that time all principals and department heads - 40 people in all - met in small groups and brainstormed ideas to consider to meet the shortfall. The ideas they presented that day were again presented to principals and assistant principals at our Friday Symposium and to the board of education on Saturday.
- Use virtual school to cover certain classes
- Share assistant principals based on school size ratio
- Share counselor positions based on school size ratio
- Centralize services that may concentrate cost pressures
- Reduce or eliminate middle school athletics
- Eliminate general fund allocation of 20 day instructional extension program
- Return Elementary gifted model to home schools
- Cut athletic travel for competition paid by System
- Adjust local supplements on salary schedules
- Look at alternative models for school nurses/school resource officers
- Eliminate/absorb Media paraprofessional positions
- Eliminate additional specials at elementary level above one included in QBE formula
- Consolidate smaller schools
- Use early retirement incentives
I would caution you that these are only ideas at this time. The board told me to put "everything on the table." Just because an idea is on the list does not mean it will be implemented. Just because an idea is not on the list does not mean it won't be implemented.
I have set up a series of meetings to be able to talk to you face to face to present information and answer your questions.
- Thursday, October 20, 4:15pm - at Kennedy Road Middle School
- Monday, October 24, 4:15pm - at Cowan Road Middle School
- Tuesday, October 25, 4:15pm - at Rehoboth Road Middle School
- Monday, October 31, 415pm - at Carver Road Middle School
Please take the opportunity to attend one of these meetings to talk to me. If you cannot attend the one set up for your school, please attend another. [More information is below in next article.]
The next step is to set up exploratory committees to look at these ideas. Jim Smith our Chief Financial Officer/Assistant Superintendent will arrange the meetings. I urge you to volunteer to serve on a committee.
Our goal is to have the FY13 plan to meet the shortfall in place by January 2012. In the meantime, we will have to research the ideas.
Is this easy? No. Is it necessary? Yes. We are now having to do what neighboring school systems did three to four years ago to cut the budget. . . . . . . . . . As I said in my October 7 Communicator column, "We're making tough decisions now about next year, and the tough decisions are not over - more are to come." I want to include you in these decisions.
Please come to one of these meetings. I want to talk with you.
For some more background information, please check out these previous communications:
Curtis | 
