The vote was 6-2, with board members Kevin Kay and Alex Saitta voting against the action.
Superintendent Henry Hunt recommended the position cuts during an executive session.
The board approved the elimination of 18 literacy specialists, 2 reading recovery interventionists, 8.6 positions from central services and district-wide personnel, 5.67 clerical positions, 16.03 media clerks, 2 media specialists and 7 guidance counselors.
A total of $192,588 will also be cut from the special education program at Simpson Academy that will reflect a reduction in staff of 6.25 positions; the LHS and DHS bus centers will be merged leading to one position cut; and the 4K program will be reduced to only one class per elementary school, for a reduction of four teacher and four aide position cuts.
Along with the recommended position cuts, the board agreed to strictly adhere to the 21.5 to 1 student to teacher ratio at all schools, with some exceptions being made at schools with special needs, Hunt said.
Hunt said the recommendations were difficult to make and were forced on the school district because of the anticipated magnitude of state funding cuts.
He said depending on final figures from the state, the necessary cuts may be adjusted, or possible go even deeper.
Chairman Jim Shelton also said the school district’s reduction force policy will be followed and that all retirements and voluntary resignations would be considered before people are affected.
Approved cuts in personnel will add up to about $3 million in savings, but school board officials said they currently expect a state funding shortfall of $7.5 million.
Additional cuts are expected to be made in other areas as the budget process continues, however the board took action concerning personnel because district staff needs sufficient time to prepare and distribute contracts by May 15, according to Hunt.
Saitta said he voted against the cuts because he felt they don’t work toward a needed change in structure at the school district.
“We have people making $90,000 and $100,000 a year, but we don’t have the revenue to support that,” he said.
Saitta said that instead of making cuts to the classroom, top salaries should be cut by about 10 percent and positions from the top should be cut.
“But that’s not happening,” he said. “We’re seeing a reduction at the bottom, and I just can’t support it.”
Board member B.J. Skelton noted the approved cut to central services staff was “not insignificant.”
He spoke out against state-mandated teacher raises the district must give while at the same time cutting positions.
“I can’t support that, but that’s where we are,” he said.
And at-large board member Shirley Jones said none of the trustees were happy about having to make the cuts.
A number of parents and students spoke following the vote in support of the STARS program at Simpson Academy and of the reading recovery program.
All praised the programs and their teachers, noting the differences they’ve made in students’ lives and education.
This isn't an issue of what they are worth or how much they are valued. There are a lot of talented people at the top. The issue is what can we afford to pay?
Let's say Bill Gates wanted a job at the school district. Obviously, he has the brains to command a $1 million salary and is worth that. He would be extremely valuable to any organization. Could the school district pay him that? The only way it could pay him that, is if we cut many salaries elsewhere.
Some might say, isn't he worth that? I think so. Would we pay him that? I think not. He'd suck up the whole budget.
Revenue growth is down and I suspect it will remain low for years to come. We can no longer afford this high salary structure at the top and the number of administrators making that kind of money.
If we continue to choose to pay administrators these high salaries, that will not free up money that is really needed now more than ever in the classroom.
What you are calling 1800 employees you idiot are called FTE's, which are full time equilvalents. Budget mum-bo-jumbo. There are 1,950 FTE's. The number of bodies working for the school district is more than 2,300, you fool, so there are 500 paper pushers and they include assistants, coordinators, clerks and directors. You need to get your figures right. Maybe next time you won't look so foolish.
You've also changed your story a bit. At first, it was cut the leaders making all that money at the the top. Now, it's half the 500 paper pushers. So let's look at math again: the school district has about 1800 employees, of which 1200 are teachers. Of the 1200 teachers, 30 positions were cut, or 2.5%. The rest (about 600) are bus drivers, custodians, maintenance and repair people, librarians, principals, clerks, etc. Of those, 75 positions were cut, or about 12.5% of those jobs. Out of those 600, where are the 500 paper pushers?
Do yourself a favor. Do some fact checking before posting and maybe you won't look quite as stupid.
If if they were right, a $100,000 is a good start. Then I would eliminate half of the 500 paper pushers that Dr. D'Andrea added and that would give you millions in savings.