By Nick Mattera
Unavoidable cuts to teachers, staff and programs were discussed by the Lewiston-Porter school board Tuesday night to help bridge a historic $1.8 million budget gap.
The trickle down effect from Gov. David A. Paterson’s proposed state budget has led to a 10.1 percent cut in state aid for the district, which Superintendent Christopher Roser said will lead to unavoidable staff cuts. He estimated nearly 30 positions would have to be cut, but all options are being looked at.
At Monday’s first budget meeting of the year, Roser laid out cuts of about $2.93 million in all phases of the district’s operations, hoping that over the next month the board can find the best combination of cuts to eliminate the proposed deficit.
Staff cuts
“Districtwide we are looking at a total of 29 positions to be cut, which translates to a savings of $992,000,” Roser told the board. A closer look at the positions slated for cuts shows:
n Seven positions in grades K-6 for a savings of $288,744
n Three positions in grades 7-12 for a savings of $142,506
n Two ELA positions for a savings of $91,661
n Eight distictwide positions (art, music, physical education, etc.) saving $340,648
n Seven teachers aides saving $93,478
n Two retirements saving $35,756
The staff reductions would lead to a slight increase in class sizes, bumping them up to the mid-20s from the high teens.
“We really need to do this thoughtfully,” Roser said. “A slash and burn technique is not the way to go here.”
Program cuts
Roser went on to propose the board reallocate some grant funding the district receives through Title I&2 and IDEA 611 &619 and put it toward teacher salaries. These grants are generally used to fund special programs like art therapy, music and other what Roser described as “niceties” or non-mandated programs. He said these redirecting of funds will help save several jobs.
“My feeling is people make a difference, its not the technology and some of these specialized programs,” Roser said. “I’m saying people we have on staff are more important to make a difference in the day to day lives of kids.”
This proposal would save $607,814 into the 2010 budget.
Miscellaneous cuts
Roser proposed a 30 percent reduction in supplies and materials districtwide, which would come with a savings of $315,402. These cuts would effect the library media department, supplies, equipment and contractual.
A proposal to cut teachers aides shifts from 6.5 hours to 5.5 hours a day is expected to save the district $144,749 and is something Roser said the district practiced in years past.
Board members said they had no plans to increase the tax levy because they did not want to pass the burden on to the taxpayers. Roser said the gap will be eliminated through a combination of the proposed cuts and effective bargaining with the district’s unions.
Collective bargaining negotiations
Roser said one part of his proposal is based solely on assumptions as he looks to make negotiations with the teachers’ union, which could potentially save the district $817,264.
“This is really tied to working together with our unions here in trying to come with some cost savings, that can directly help us save some positions,” Roser said.
Roser said part of the $817,000 will include the district’s attempt to collect $350,00 from a union-controlled trust fund.
“The trust benefit, again we are trying to work with the union to say let’s not overfund the health insurance benefits and so forth,” he said.
In 2008, tax forms showed the union’s trust fund held $2.91 million to go toward teachers’ health insurance, a number that has steadily increased since 2005. In that year, the fund held just over $1.5 million.
The controversial fund received notoriety during last year’s school board election when board candidates contended that for years the Lewiston-Porter United Teachers Union overcharged the district for the health benefits, resulting in a tidy surplus that can allegedly be used at its discretion.
Roser denied those claims and attributed the funds growth to the union’s appropriate management, which led to a higher than normal reserve.
“It was a benefit that was given in collective bargaining, it was approved by the board and now we need to relook at this thing and find a way to make it so everyone benefits,” Roser said.
Last week, the school board approved a 120-hour independent study into the fund by the Walsh Firm at a cost of $5,750. Roser confirmed they met with the company on Monday and the probe should begin shortly.
“The negotiations have been ongoing for two years we are working very hard to get this thing done,” Roser said. “There has been stuff agreed to behind closed doors and once we get something we all agree to, we will go from there.”
He added that he “doesn’t count on anything at the table.”
