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| Title I staff cuts could be held until August |
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| Wednesday, 09 July 2008 | |
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Cliff Buchan News Editor An additional delay of a month seems likely for 20 Title I paraprofessional aides who face job elimination as part of ongoing budget cut deliberations in ISD 831. That could change tonight (Thursday) when the school board meets in regular session, but after a special meeting on Monday, the delay until early August seems likely. The school board continues to struggle with what to do with its Title I paraprofessionals who provide special tutoring to students at elementary buildings in the district. Under a budget reduction process approved by the board last winter, some paraprofessional staffing positions would be cut with the extent of the cuts determined later. The school board last month fudged on that plan, however, when the state legislature delivered a one-time $400,000 injection of new revenue for the 2008-2009 school year. The second thoughts by some board members came after the administration reported updated allocation figures that pushed the total amount of budget cuts for the paraprofessionals from $40,000 (the amount approved for reduction last winter) to include an additional $23,129 for “Non-Title I” staffing. The amount is in addition to a reduction or set-aside of $78,148 of the district’s Title I allocation under federal No Child Left Behind rules tied to AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) performance at two schools in math and reading for special education students. The set-aside is a federal rule to cover transportation costs for any parents of the two schools who elect to move their students to schools that are making AYP. Monday’s meeting offered an hour of talk, but no new ideas or compromise solutions from board members who did not support the cuts in June. Board member Rob Rapheal, who seemed perplexed by the lack of a compromise solution from those who raised the issue, suggested the board consider a resolution to the issue on July 10th. That could include a plan giving the board some options within the next month. The budget reduction proposal calls for a cut of 20 paraprofessionals, dropping the elementary workforce from 49 part-time positions to 29 in the 2008-2009 school year. The board was not at full strength on Monday, as well. Joe Grafft did not attend the special session and member Dan Kieger can not take part in votes because his wife is an employee in the paraprofessional group. More review More discussion is expected when the board meets tonight. In the opinion of Board President Bill Bresin, only two viable options are open. The board can move forward with the cuts as recommended by the administration or leave the staff in place and tap the general fund reserves for the dollars, Bresin said. Because of complicated rules tied to the federal funds that flow to the district, Superintendent Lynn Steenblock did not support a partial reduction in staffing for Title I and Non-Title I schools. If the additional state funding is to be considered, Steenblock said other staffing cuts, including classroom teachers and media clerks, should also be given consideration based on a fairness test. The board has already completed a series of other budget cuts that laid off more than 20 staff positions. At its June meeting, the board agreed to utilize $200,000 of the $400,000 in state aid to supplement its budget for diesel fuel which is expected to far exceed planned limits because of the rapidly rising cost of fuel. The board also agreed in June to spend $65,000 for classroom teachers where enrollment gains made the hires necessary. The plan also calls for some $135,000 to be spent on SMART Board technology at secondary schools to bridge the gap from elementary buildings. But a delay until August does not seem out of the question and the administration said Monday the decision could be delayed another month. By late July or early August, the district expects to receive notification of its new AYP classification. If Linwood and Forest View, the two elementary buildings now on the AYP list, are removed from the list, the $78,148 set-aside will no longer be needed, solving most of the funding problem. Linda Madsen, director of teaching and learning, said districts will no longer be required to wait until State Fair time to learn its AYP fate. “They (state department) know the bind school districts are in,” Madsen said. “They are trying to get information to us. It could go into August.” Rapheal labeled the process “ridiculous,” saying it made no sense to remove dollars used to help kids learn math and learn to read and reserve the dollars for transportation expenses. If a decision is delayed until early August, administrators said they felt procedural matters could still be handled if staff reductions are needed. The school board’s next meeting is Thursday, Aug. 7. A total of 46 of the 49 current Title I paraprofessionals are union members who can only be released under a prescribed set of guidelines. Social Bookmarking ...       |
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