Board member Carl Fisher, who introduced the idea of tabling the proposal said of the state potentially taking fiscal control: “Let ‘em come down, folks.”
The cuts totaled $6.3 million and, in concert with the levy, would meet the Ohio Department of Education’s request for Huber Heights to present a plan to effectively reduce costs and generate revenue. Without it, the district is projected to be operating in the red as of 2014.
The district also voted to put a 9.55-mill operational levy on the May ballot.
Superintendent Sue Gunnell, when presenting the proposal at Thursday night’s meeting, said the district was faced with going to the state minimum if the levy fails, as represented by the plan.
The state minimum would include decreasing the current school day by one hour, eliminating the extracurriculars and athletics, extending the walk zone for busing, and reducing staff.
Gunnell noted that Huber Heights, a district of more than 6,000, hasn’t passed a request for new money since 2005.
The district saw its third straight new-money levy fail in November. That defeat resulted in the proposed elimination of 77.5 staff positions, including 31.5 teaching jobs, for the 2013-14 school year.
The proposed cuts tabled Thursday would have been combined with the cuts package outlined after the November levy failed. Those approved cuts included the reduction of gym and music classes at the elementary school level; the reduction of electives, such as foreign languages, at the high school; and the elimination of sports and choir at the junior high for 2013-14.
A crowd of at least 300 residents, nearly 20 of whom spoke in opposition to the cuts, attended the meeting Thursday. Many spoke about the benefits that extracurriculars, such as ROTC and sports, bring to students.
“We’ve got to give them the opportunity to be successful,” said parent and business owner Ronnie Redd. “If that means passing a levy, let’s do it; if it means other revenue sources, do it. But my fear is that if we do this, we won’t recover from it.”
Others fought for the teachers, psychologists, paraprofessionals and others whose jobs would be cut, and whose students they said would suffer.
“If you are going to cut IEP programs, and if IEP classes get bigger (my daughter) is going to struggle,” said Jessica Monte, a parent who spoke about children on individual education plans. “Kids with IEPs need help desperately.”
Fisher’s suggestion to table the proposed cuts was seconded by board President Mark Combs.
“I’m concerned we’re going to step into a serious mistake,” Fisher said. “They should not allow school districts to make these decisions that are detrimental to students.”
Combs said he felt it was clear that these cuts were not going to solve the problem, and that the board should find other sources of revenue. He suggested forming a magnet school or exploring open enrollment to raise money.
Board members Anita Brock and Kelly Bledsoe voted against tabling the measure, given the failure to come up with viable revenue sources previously and the looming state deadline.
The remaining board member, Joe Ellis, “reluctantly” agreed to table the measure.
If the May levy passes, Gunnell said there would still will be reductions but they likely will total closer to the $3.4 million noted in the November levy campaign.
“The decision of what comes back if the levy passes has not been made at this time,” she added. “I anticipate that in January.”
Gunnell said the central office staff and a board representative had 10 meetings between Nov. 17 and Dec. 8, visiting each building and two district departments to ascertain what reductions to make for the cuts proposal.
The district also solicited ideas from the community, and received 300 suggestions.
One idea, saving money through reducing printing costs, will be employed as early as January.
“Report cards will be available online only when the semester ends Jan. 11,” said Gunnell, noting that printouts can be provided by special request. “Our high school courses will be online also. It is important to note that we are listening, and every penny counts.”
Gunnell, who has been with the district for 28 years and superintendent since August, said she has lived through many financial reductions at the district.
“The only comfort I get from that is that we did get through it,” she said. “But now we also have all these state and federal requirements, like Race to the Top, teacher and principal evaluations, third-grade reading guarantee. The number of initiatives on top of these reductions seems to be elevating the magnitude.”
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