Much discussion related to the district's budget situation occurred at the Board of Education's work session and public meeting this week. The following are cost cutting measures proposed by the Superintendent at the March work session of the Susquehanna Community School District Board of Directors:
-Reduce building-level expenditures by $100,000
-Reduce athletic expenditures by $30,000
-Reduce maintenance and technology expenditures by $35,000
-Eliminate Department Head and Grade Span Leader Positions
-Reduce from two school plays per year to one school play per year
-Eliminate paid lunch duties at the junior/senior high school
-Convert Behind-The-Wheel Driver Education to a student fee-based program
-Eliminate additional security at low attendance events held at the school campus
-Eliminate the marching band program
-Reduce the activity bus to two nights per week and modify the activity bus route
Potential staffing cuts that have been discussed by the Board of Education at the work session:
-Elimination of the high school's Family & Consumer Science Program
-Conversion of K4 back to a ½ day program
-Conversion of the high school library to a teacher-resource center and the elimination of one high school library/English teacher
-Elimination of the position of High School Assistant Principal
-Elimination of separate instruction in Elementary Art, Music, Technology & Library
-Elimination of following non-instructional positions:
o Copier Room Aide
o Security Guard
o Part-time Maintenance
o Technology Assistant
o High School Front Office Cleric
o One K4 Aide
None of the above proposals have been formally acted upon by the Board of Education at this time.
Thank You, Mr. Stone, for allowing us access to the information. It isn't easy for any of us, but it is nice to know that the truth is available.
ReplyDeleteFor those of us interested, could you please post the date/time of the April school board meeting. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhile I am saddened that any teachers need to be "eliminated", I hope that a great deal of thought is put into which teachers are chosen. I for one would to see the bad teachers leave-regardless of their years with the school- so that the amazing teachers can stay with my children. Please keep this in mind.
ReplyDeleteAfter having worked on large budgets for several years, it is obvious that the largest savings to a school district would be achieved if administration, teachers and staff agree to freeze their salaries until the end of the contract. In a district this size, the savings would be over several hundred thousand dollars each year, with an additional savings compounded yearly. This would significantly reduce the need to eliminate positions and quite possibly programs. If our goal is truly to seek a solution that will benefit the children, this is a remedy worth pursuing.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that things have come to this for everyone involved. I hate to see people lose their jobs as this is a tough time for all. However, I am more saddened that our children are possible going to lose out on being able to participate in gym, art, music and library. I believe that they are essential to a childs learning as well. My sister went on to become an art teacher due to her learning at schs. I'm also saddened to see the pre-k cut down to a half day. Alot of these children need to be in school.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the list of possibilities it seems a little heavy towards cutting low end or support type positions. The reference to Family and Consumer Science is a dissapointment because it teaches true life skills especially with regaurd to sex education and childbirth, something that is lacking in many small towns. Also agree with comment about disregaurding seniority with regaurd to bad teachers. I for one welcome the legislation to look at performance vs tenure
ReplyDeleteI think one thing that all need to remember is the children. They are our future and it's their needs we should be concentrating on. Their education and happiness should always be top priority as they are our future. School should be a learning experience as well as a fun place to go. Who wants unhappy students in our school? If they don't have a little recreation through out a long day, they will get burnt out. Us as adults even need that. Please consider their needs above all else!
ReplyDeleteThank you for making this information available to the public. I'm saddened to read this but we all know that our board has got their work cut out for them in trying to operate with all of the budget cuts. I am very sad to see the family/consumer sciences position being done away with, there are children whom need this branch of education desperately as there's nothing provided elsewhere. I would like to see this position saved and possibly cut more out of our athletic program, possibly eliminate a teacher's aide somewhere, and maybe outsource some janitorial or clerical services to save on benefits. Another option would be to cut more from the athletics program and make these programs an option for students at a cost with their families picking up the tab rather than the taxpayers paying for their recreation.
ReplyDeleteI agree with tenure not being an issue and that it should go on performance. There are so many teachers my son has had before that I have tried to contact that have blown me off or flatly disagreed with me with any compromise. I have tried very hard and had many meetings to try to resolve this problem. Now my kid is in seventh grade and its a completel;y different story. We need to do whats best for the school and not just the tenured teachers.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure a large part of the budget is spent on retired teaches paid benifits. I'm not saying they dont deserve full paid benifits after retirement but maybe something else can be done differently from this aspect?
ReplyDeleteI for one dont think that the teachers should agree to freeze their pay raises. They, just like everyone else has bills and a family to raise. This economy has taken a toll on everyone's budget. The employees of PP&L and PAWC and any other place wouldnt freeze their pays so the customers could have cheaper bills. So how can we expect the teacers to do the same? In a sense it's the same thing. And just for the record I am not a teacher nor an I related to any
ReplyDelete"The foundation of every state is the education of its youth" a quote by Diderot in the 1700's. How are we educating our youth when we value sports and the expenses involved such as liablity insurance and not teaching them that our society values art, music, literature? I believe you are sending the wrong message and cutting the wrong programs. It reflects poorly on our community and school district that the choices are about to be made to do away with a well rounded education for our children, the citizens of tomorrow. Consider the freezing of all salaries including administrative salaries and perhaps sports clubs outside of school that parents invest in rather than school budgets. I believe that in other countries sports are an outside interest and not funded by schools and that arts are valued as part of an education. signed, anonymous
ReplyDelete...what about next year? This seems to be just the beginning. The salary freeze seems to be the better solution in regards to the salvation of what our students need for the years to come. Once these programs are gone, it is nearly impossible to foresee them coming back in the future and only more will be cut the following year...How is this a solution at all?
ReplyDeleteI think we all need to realize that we have a great superintendent in this district who is doing his best to make proposals that support the education of our children as well as take care of the teachers. I have heard him say that he cares very much about the teachers' situations. The School Board of this district is incredible and they're working their hardest to make VERY tough decisions that will benefit all who are involved. Thank God we are a part of a district who cares so much about the education of our children and about our teachers as well.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the Scranton Times article, I have more questions than answers. First, it seems to me that a cost of just over $15K per student per year seems high. Is it compared to other local school districts? When I search online and find I could send 3 children to Seton Catholic for less than that, I find disparity in the numbers. Also, I briefly looked at the online contracts, and if I read correctly, teachers are provided with free health, dental and vision care (with copays). Since I began working in 1986, I have never worked for anyone who provided complimentary benefits (public and private sector jobs). Am I reading this correctly, and if so, why are the benefits of the educators more in line with the benefits of the local population whom they serve. More I read, more questions I end up with.....
ReplyDeleteIt is apparent that many people feel the same about sport programs. I must ask, What does it cost to run our football program? I know other schools who have this program ask the parents and booster club programs to fund a majority of the budget. Could we know how much it actually costs for football at SCHS?
ReplyDeleteAs a parent who takes full responsibility for my child and her needs, I wonder how much SCSD would save if they did not have to provide for students whose parents should be, but aren't responsible enough to go to the DG and buy a pack of pencils, notebooks, binders, etc? How about making their child (children) breakfast or packing them a lunch instead of expecting the school district to flip that bill as well. A huge issue in education that must cause a loss of money is the assumption that schools should provide this stuff. My parents took me shopping before school each year and bought what I might need for the school year. It wasn't the most expensive brand, but it did the job. I didn't have brand names cereals or lunch snacks, but again it filled my stomach and gave me the energy to learn during the day. If I had a project that required arts and craft supplies I was creative and looked around my house or bought it if absolutely necessary. My parents didn't expect the school or my teacher to make sure I had it. I understand these are difficult times, but setting your priorities to be your children and what they need to make the most of their education rather than other things (newest cellphones, vacations, etc) might teach them the greatest life lesson of all. I think we as parents have to stop pointing the finger at teachers, school board, and administration all the time and take a look at ourselves. They aren't perfect, but either are we!
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