Budget Reduction Questions, Answers, Comments
Welcome to this Question / Answer / Comment Site! It is for you to use whether you want to read what others have asked, post your own questions, or simply maybe you want to make a comment. All questions will be sent anonymously to Superintendent Terry Schmidt. He will provide answers within 24 hours for everyone to see. During the upcoming weeks budget reduction recommendations will be determined by the Board of Directors. This is a good forum to get your questions answered or comments posted and to help others learn from the responses. As always, the better communication that exists, the easier it is to understand the actions that must be taken.
To submit a question, please click here.
Q: How many dollars must the Directors cut from the school budget for 2010 – 2011?
A: Given the poor fiscal health of the school district especially after the mandated 10% across the board cut in State of Iowa aid, it has been recommended the Directors reduce its planned expenditures by a minimum of $1M and ranging up to $1.2M.
Q: When will the budget cuts become finalized?
A: It is planned the Directors will finish their budget reduction work by February 8 and not later than February 22. Proposals from the district’s leadership team began at the January 11 meeting and will continue of January 25.
Q: Since the District is restructuring and several teachers will be moving to different positions to cover those open from retirements, why isn’t the district sending out a letter/e-mail with all the open positions (once they’re finalized) and everyone in the district given the option to move to a different position that they are either certified in or willing to get certification in? This is a perfect opportunity for those looking for a change either in grade level or subject area to make it, and instead of giving teachers the opportunity to make a move that could make them happier/better teachers, some teachers are being told that they might be moved without much choice. I understand this is a tough time, but why not see if we can make it a little easier on everyone? Then, if we need to move people by involuntary transfer, so be it.
A: Communication about various positions for the next school year had to be delayed until the January 15 Notification Date passed. There have been several additional teacher early retirement requests submitted for consideration. The Directors will take action for these on January 25. Information about various positions will be shared with all employees not later than January 27. Returning teachers will have the opportunity to submit a request for a voluntary transfer according to the master contract with ROEA. Involuntary transfers may be considered on February 8 but not later than February 22. No formal action has taken place by the governing body.
Q: When the Board reduced the hours of the custodians and secretaries, it was to be through June 30th. Will these groups get the 3 hours per week back for the next school year?
A: Building principals and department directors have been asked to gather information for a written report to the Directors about this very topic. The effects of the three hour per week loss need to be understood by all decision-makers. Each person who has lost three hours per week should be ready to describe the on-going consequences of the reduction - i.e. what has happened in the job place as result of three less hours? It is likely that some, maybe not all, will have hours restored on July 1.
Q: With all of the teaching positions being cut. When will an administrator be cut out of the budget?
A: At the present time no administrative position is planned to "be cut out of the budget" for next year – although it could happen sometime in the future. Several months ago the Red Oak school district gave up 20% of the time for two management positions in order to gain $250,000 in State of Iowa share management incentive money. A little over a year ago, a management position was created to improve the amount of Medicaid reimbursement coming to Red Oak. That position has generated almost three times the amount of salary required - causing a net gain of almost $36,000 in local funds for Red Oak. With a State of Iowa accreditation visit scheduled for next fall and with the need to complete the Iowa Core Curriculum implementation, the number of leadership positions will not be recommended for change at least for a year.
Q: Has the list of openings been finalized and published for all to see? I read that
this was to be done by January 27th and it is now February.
A: My goal was to do this by January 27th, but the final decision about budget reductions will not be made until the patron/staff input is received on Monday, February 8. As late as today (February 3), staffing needs were still being defined. An effort will be made to list some of our needs as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience.
Q: I was wondering if the savings we thought we would have by closing the buildings over Christmas Break were substantial? Or was anything we saved eventually spent on snow removal?
A: I estimated for the Board of Directors back in early November the district might be able to save as much as $12,000 in utility costs by shutting down all buildings during the winter holiday recess. Actual utility costs savings have amounted to $9,961.07 that includes over $800 in water savings we did not anticipate. Energy savings may have been even higher had we not experienced the very low temperatures that averaged eight (8) degrees colder each day than the previous year. The snow removal cost of $16,000 would have been with us no matter what. The energy cost savings just helped to offset that.
Q: When will staff be notified of the list of openings we are facing in the district to allow for voluntary transfers? I read in the board minutes that the high school language positions will be filled in-house so I am curious as to if this is going to be open for voluntary transfer or involuntary transfer. If staff are being moved involuntarily when will they be informed?
A: A district-wide e-mail message was sent on 2.16.10 sharing information about certain teaching positions for the 2010 - 2011 school year. Until we have formal action by our Board of Directors regarding the extent of budget reductions, it is nearly impossible to be 100% inclusive on teaching positions for the next school year. Your patience is appreciated. There could be more positions listed and certainly the staffing picture will become much clearer after transfers are approved at the March 8 regular board meeting.
Q: Have we looked in to how many students sign-up and take French class?
We have a foreign language of Spanish, but how many kids actually would use French as a foreign language? I feel one foreign language option is enough. This is a place that could be cut.
A: Yes, we are looking at numbers - constantly. We are mindful of large number of students who want and/or take Spanish. We know any loss of a second foreign language will add more demand for Spanish. The high school will begin pre-enrolling in the next two weeks. I will report back what our numbers tell us for next year and beyond.
Q: What cuts if any are being looked at for support staff? When will the Board act on these and the hours for custodians and secretaries?
A: We will have the board meetings of March 8 and April 12 to give final consideration to support staff positions for next year. The number of positions and the number of hours worked for each position will depend heavily on our negotiated labor costs.
Q: With the Washington principal position open. Will the school district fill that position?
A: A decision will be made within two weeks concerning the Washington School principalship. The Washington assignment is basically a .5 FTE principal's position and a .5 FTE Curriculum & Instruction position. With the five-year accreditation for Red Oak scheduled for next year and with the mandate to complete the Iowa Core Curriculum implementation in the near future, it is difficult to plan for reduced skills and/or time in the area of Curriculum and Instruction leadership.
