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Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2006 > October > 23 > Entry
Dayton school cuts for 2007-08
Here’s the second half of the cuts the school board has planned for July 2007. Just follow the “continue reading” link at the bottom.
The board is planning a 9.75 mill levy for May and if it passes, most of these cuts likely will not be implemented. The cuts for January are expected to go pretty much as described if the board approves this plan Tuesday.
Cuts proposed for July 2007
Curriculum and Instruction
—Close two elementary schools and one middle school.
Rationale: The district will move to consolidate more aggressively in preparation for new, larger schools to come online.
Saving: $4.4 million
—Consolidate Montessori programs at Franklin Elementary School.
Rationale: This allows for the elimination of extra teacher’s aides at Jefferson and Horace Mann schools who assist with Montessori programs. The district has plans to eventually have one Montessori school at the Patterson Career Center site on River Corridor Drive.
Savings: $643,500
—Abolish administrative jobs of executive director of secondary education, assistant superintendent for pupil services, legal liason, one position in the accountability office, one principal, associate director of elementary initiatives and one teacher on special assignment.
Rationale: Several of these jobs will be vacated by retirement. Workload will be shared by other administrators.
Savings: $710,439
—Eliminate non-essential summer school programs.
Rationale: Will offer only summer school programs required by No Child Left Behind.
Saving: N/A
—Eliminate intervention program during fall break.
Rationale: This program is designed to help kids catch up who need extra help during an October break.
Saving: $30,000
—Reduce adjunct staff at Stivers and Colonel White high schools by another 25 percent.
Rationale: Saving can be made by cutting specialized arts services.
Savings: $202,233
—Cut high school electives by another 25 percent.
Rationale: Schools will build master schedules that focus on basic subjects with fewer elective choices.
Savings: 518,400
—Eliminate either vocal or instrumental music at elementary schools.
Rationale: Cuts a program offering both at elementary schools. Reduces each school to one music teacher
Savings: $665,415
—Move one administrative position to grant funding
Rationale: Reduces general fund budget costs.
Savings: $87,301
—Eliminate all five high school nurses.
Rationale: One remaining nurse will rotate among the high schools.
Savings: $216,000
—Raise class size to labor contract maximum (25).
Rationale: Expected to result in 21 teaching jobs cut.
Savings: $943,326
—Eliminate 10 elementary school assistant principals and three teachers on special assignment in elementary schools.
Rationale: Schools will operate with less supervision.
Savings: $1.1 million
—Reduce high schools to one assistant principal.
Rationale: Each high school will have just one assistant principal.
—Eliminate the job of principal at Colonel White High School’s academic magnet program and teacher on special assignment at the school.
Rationale: Magnet program for high achievers will operate with less supervision and leadership.
Savings: $174,000
—Seek grant funding for general fund programs.
Rationale: Reduces costs to the general fund.
Savings: $500,000
Total curriculum and instruction savings: $11 million
Facilities Management
Engineering
—Cut purchased services.
Rationale: Reduce previously planned purchases.
Total engineering savings: $25,000
Groundswork
—Lay off two groundskeepers.
Rationale: Will push the mowing cycle from once a week to every 10 days at schools and every two weeks for vacant lots.
Total groundswork savings: $89,859
Custodial
—Lay off five night assistant custodians, five substitute custodians and one area manager.
Rationale: Expand “priority cleaning,” focusing on basics like trash removal and sweeping, to more sites. Fewer supervisor visits to buildings.
Total custodial savings: $360,024
Maintenance
—Lay off eight maintenance workers
Rationale: Reduces response time for repair requests.
Total maintenance savings: $571,933
Total facilities management savings: $1 million
Transportation
—Cut one budget inventory technician, five bus aides, one router and one dispatch. Also, eliminate RTA bus passes for high school students.
Rationale: Longer turnaround on repairs, no student field trips, reduced bus supervision, no out-of-city travel for middle school sports.
Total transportation savings: $3.5 million
Logistical support services
—Lay off stock clerk
Rationale: Processing time for school supplies will double.
Savings: $29,460
Safety and Security
—Lay off security officers at Belle Haven and Wogaman schools.
Rationale: Newer schools have more cameras and safety features and can be monitored without security. Some board members asked administrators to reconsider this move.
Total safety and security savings: $72,467
Athletics and Intramurals
—Eliminate annual transfer of general funds to athletic budget.
Rationale: Turf at Welcome Stadium will be replaced with funds provided by a state grant, reducing the need for the transfer.
Total athletics and intramural savings: $5475,000
Superintendent’s office
—Reduce catered food, consultant services, travel, supplies, printing, professional group association dues and memberships, equipment rental.
Rationale: Cuts do not impact academic programs
Savings: $53,000
—Reduce advertising
Rationale: Cut student recruitment materials and mailings.
Savings: $25,000
Total superintendent’s office savings: $78,000
—Close down and shut off utilities for Roosevelt High School, the former First Street administration building, two elementary schools and one middle school (the schools have not been named)
Rationale: Save general funds.
Total building closure savings: $1.5 million
Additional reductions still needed
—Workforce reductions.
Rationale: To meet the 2007-08 budget without a new levy, the board must significantly reduce spending beyond the cuts already listed.
Savings still needed: $9.3 million
—Non-payroll reductions
Rationale: To meet the 2007-08 budget without a new levy, the board must significantly reduce spending beyond the cuts already listed.
Savings still needed: $2.9 million
Grand total proposed cost savings: $30 million
Permalink | Comments (5) | Categories: Dayton Public Schools
Comments
By Pamela
November 3, 2006 12:11 AM | Link to this
My family and I are getting ready to move into the Dayton Public Schools area within the next 2 months. I knew some of the problems that were going on, but the more I’ve read, the more saddened I am. I just have to ask though, why have all these financial problems been ignored until now? If the situation is really this bad, it’s had to have been going on for awhile. Now it’s the children that are going to wind up paying the price, not the ones who let it get this way. Right now my 3 children (ages 12, 14, and 16) are in a small county school, and I was so excited about them being able to be in a bigger school where there would be more possibilities for them. With all the cuts that they are proposing, that has become an impossibility. I’ve actually started to look into the charter and private schools. I hate to do that, but I want the best opportunities for my children…what parent doesn’t? The bad thing is, that takes money away from the schools that need it, and the problems worsen. How many other students have the Dayton schools lost because of this reason?By Lois
October 25, 2006 10:33 AM | Link to this
As we read the list of possible cuts, holding our breath to see how the jobs or programs that are important to us are impacted, it is easy to forget that our fundamental problem is the manner in which we fund education in the state of Ohio. Our legislature and govenor have consistantly refused to address the inadequacy while consistantly increasing the number of unfunded mandates. The Dayton Public Schools is not the only district in our area in distress, just the largest. For example, the Huber Heights and Fairborn Schools are also struggling, for many of the same reasons.By Rose
October 24, 2006 11:01 AM | Link to this
The majority of the cuts affect the quality of education. Saving $30,000 to eliminate an intervention program that may heep a student from failing, hating school and even dropping out in the future is wasted savings if you ask me. Once again this board and administration has proven that statistics and fluff are more important than educating. And they wonder why people opt for charter, private and suburban schoolsBy Caroline
October 24, 2006 12:16 AM | Link to this
I agree. The superintendents ofc needs to have more cut. How are special ed busses going to survive without para’s? Our buildings are already a mess, landscaping is almost non-existent. More time for fixing building problems? Can it really take any longer?By Terri
October 23, 2006 3:15 PM | Link to this
So the superintendents office’s part in cost reduction is a mere $78,000? How about closing Ludlow 2? What exactly is housed there? I’ve had a few meetings and professional development workshops there, but it was a rather empty building when I was there. Those meetings could be held at a school instead.