Update on 2009-2010 budget process
Comments made by MSTA and SNEA teacher representatives at the May 5 school board meeting brought to my attention that misinformation is being shared about the effect of salary and step freezes on administrative personnel. Let me be very clear--no raises or steps of any manner have been issued with contracts for administrators.
Please know that any step and salary freeze that may be necessary for the upcoming year will be in effect for all employees of the district. This is without exception.
During difficult budget years, unfortunate rumors such as this one sometimes occur. It has been our goal to provide you as much detail as possible regarding our budget to avoid such misinformation. That is one reason we created the Bottom Line information page on the district Web site, which has been operational since April 23. Located on the front page of our Web site, it will keep the latest information concerning our budget at your fingertips. Click here to view the Bottom Line.
I would also like to take this opportunity to provide a quick outline of where we stand today as far as cuts being recommended to balance revenues and expenditures for the upcoming year. These total more than $6.1 million and were decided upon before any consideration was given to salary and step freezes.
The cuts will have a direct impact on the quality of support services provided to our staff and patrons but they are necessary given our current economic circumstances. Please note that this is a partial list of the cuts, which total $6.1 million for 2009-2010, which is in addition to the $4.2 million in cuts already made during 2008-2009.
Operations
Elimination of School Based Clinicians
Reduction in A+ funding
Reduction in Guidance and Counseling facilitator and support
Reduction in Non-District Security Services
Reductions in the Extended Learning Program
Reduction of 1 ESOL FTE
Reduction of 1 ISSI FTE through attrition
Reduction of 1 Counselor FTE through attrition
Reduction of 1 Nurse FTE through attrition
Elimination of Coordinator of Alternative Programs through attrition
Reduction of 1 Behavior Interventionist FTE through reassignment
Business Services and Facilities
Elimination of facility improvement funds
Reduction in custodial services
Postponement of Pershing electrical upgrade
Postponement of Glendale bleacher replacement
Postponement of filling internal auditor vacancy
Curriculum and Instruction
Reduction in materials, equipment and supplies budgets
Reduction in purchases of manipulatives and consumables for K-12 teachers
Reduction in funding for book replacement to address wear and tear
Reduction in purchase of printed music, instruments and supplies for music classrooms
Reduction in number of student print periodicals
Reduction in repair budgets
Reduction in repair or purchase of microscopes, dishwashers, refrigerators, electronic balances, triple beam balances, and scientific models
Reduction in conference support for leaders and teachers
Professional Development
Elimination of 1 STEP UP Coach FTE by reassignment as a classroom teacher
Reduction in 2010 teacher summer academies for professional development
Elimination of 2010 Summer Leadership Academy
Reduction in training supply budgets and frequency of teacher training
Reduction in the number of PD 360 licenses for teachers
Reduction in conference support for leaders and teachers
Elimination of Summer 2010 SIP Option
Information Technology
Reduction of equipment replacement and/or new purchases of new PCs, Smartboards, LCD projectors, and ELMOS
Reduction of maintenance contracts, server replacements, wireless access points, and switches/network equipment
Community Relations and Grants
Elimination of Channel 25 (now 81).
Reduction of Teacher Externship program
Reduction in newsletters to our patrons
Elimination of $100,000 available to match grant opportunities
Human Resources
Elimination of Retirement Banquet
Elimination of Teacher of the Month Recognition
Elimination of Teacher Insight Program
Once again, this is a partial list of cuts. In addition to the items above, there have been many cuts to overall general supplies, materials, and training, and those will unfortunately be felt throughout the system during the coming year.
Departmental leaders will be communicating more specifically with their staff and stakeholders to provide a clearer picture of all cuts and how they will impact the level of services and support previously provided.
Due to the uncertainty of the next few months, we must be prepared to make additional cuts to services and supplies as needed. Please continue to check the Bottom Line page for timely updates.
This district performs at a very high level and is one that, compared to any district of its size, is a very lean operation. Due to this fact, cuts of any type, but certainly of this magnitude, will have a negative impact on the quality of service provided to our staff and patrons. Please know that we are working very hard at making the most of these difficult times and decisions.
Please know that any step and salary freeze that may be necessary for the upcoming year will be in effect for all employees of the district. This is without exception.
During difficult budget years, unfortunate rumors such as this one sometimes occur. It has been our goal to provide you as much detail as possible regarding our budget to avoid such misinformation. That is one reason we created the Bottom Line information page on the district Web site, which has been operational since April 23. Located on the front page of our Web site, it will keep the latest information concerning our budget at your fingertips. Click here to view the Bottom Line.
I would also like to take this opportunity to provide a quick outline of where we stand today as far as cuts being recommended to balance revenues and expenditures for the upcoming year. These total more than $6.1 million and were decided upon before any consideration was given to salary and step freezes.
The cuts will have a direct impact on the quality of support services provided to our staff and patrons but they are necessary given our current economic circumstances. Please note that this is a partial list of the cuts, which total $6.1 million for 2009-2010, which is in addition to the $4.2 million in cuts already made during 2008-2009.
Operations
Elimination of School Based Clinicians
Reduction in A+ funding
Reduction in Guidance and Counseling facilitator and support
Reduction in Non-District Security Services
Reductions in the Extended Learning Program
Reduction of 1 ESOL FTE
Reduction of 1 ISSI FTE through attrition
Reduction of 1 Counselor FTE through attrition
Reduction of 1 Nurse FTE through attrition
Elimination of Coordinator of Alternative Programs through attrition
Reduction of 1 Behavior Interventionist FTE through reassignment
Business Services and Facilities
Elimination of facility improvement funds
Reduction in custodial services
Postponement of Pershing electrical upgrade
Postponement of Glendale bleacher replacement
Postponement of filling internal auditor vacancy
Curriculum and Instruction
Reduction in materials, equipment and supplies budgets
Reduction in purchases of manipulatives and consumables for K-12 teachers
Reduction in funding for book replacement to address wear and tear
Reduction in purchase of printed music, instruments and supplies for music classrooms
Reduction in number of student print periodicals
Reduction in repair budgets
Reduction in repair or purchase of microscopes, dishwashers, refrigerators, electronic balances, triple beam balances, and scientific models
Reduction in conference support for leaders and teachers
Professional Development
Elimination of 1 STEP UP Coach FTE by reassignment as a classroom teacher
Reduction in 2010 teacher summer academies for professional development
Elimination of 2010 Summer Leadership Academy
Reduction in training supply budgets and frequency of teacher training
Reduction in the number of PD 360 licenses for teachers
Reduction in conference support for leaders and teachers
Elimination of Summer 2010 SIP Option
Information Technology
Reduction of equipment replacement and/or new purchases of new PCs, Smartboards, LCD projectors, and ELMOS
Reduction of maintenance contracts, server replacements, wireless access points, and switches/network equipment
Community Relations and Grants
Elimination of Channel 25 (now 81).
Reduction of Teacher Externship program
Reduction in newsletters to our patrons
Elimination of $100,000 available to match grant opportunities
Human Resources
Elimination of Retirement Banquet
Elimination of Teacher of the Month Recognition
Elimination of Teacher Insight Program
Once again, this is a partial list of cuts. In addition to the items above, there have been many cuts to overall general supplies, materials, and training, and those will unfortunately be felt throughout the system during the coming year.
Departmental leaders will be communicating more specifically with their staff and stakeholders to provide a clearer picture of all cuts and how they will impact the level of services and support previously provided.
Due to the uncertainty of the next few months, we must be prepared to make additional cuts to services and supplies as needed. Please continue to check the Bottom Line page for timely updates.
This district performs at a very high level and is one that, compared to any district of its size, is a very lean operation. Due to this fact, cuts of any type, but certainly of this magnitude, will have a negative impact on the quality of service provided to our staff and patrons. Please know that we are working very hard at making the most of these difficult times and decisions.
Labels: 2009-2010 budget
posted by Norm at
10:25 AM
Dr. Ridder,
I am the wife of a teacher and a mother of a student in SPS. Although the picture for next year isn't the most exciting, I want to thank you a thousand times over for the leadership you have provided throughout these difficult times. I can only imagine how hard it is to make these decisions. Thank you for taking ownership of your organization and for saying, "You know, it may be bad, but we are going to do the best we can with what we have." We have so much for which to be thankful. I admire your leadership and am honored to be a part of this top-notch school district.
By
Amanda, At
May 12, 2009 at 2:21 PM
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