Chrissy Alspaugh, The Republic

   Bartholomew Consolidated is one of three Indiana school corporations being honored for success in cutting its budget without compromising classroom instruction. 

   Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett said Bartholomew Consolidated, Evansville Vanderburgh and Lebanon Community school corporations have “demonstrated tremendous leadership in addressing these challenges proactively with a strong commitment to maintaining instructional quality.” 

   Bennett said the districts have in common an ongoing willingness to make difficult decisions and a strong commitment to the core mission of maintaining instruction. 

   “The key to what I’m hearing is that these districts have a well-defined mission and make sure their resources go toward that,” he said.

No crisis for BCSC 

   Gov. Mitch Daniels in December announced he will cut state spending on public schools by at lweast $300 million, given a new revenue forecast according to which Indiana government will take in $1.8 billion less than lawmakers thought when they passed a two-year budget. 

   Though BCSC will be running on $3 million less from the state, administrators said next school year will look like business as usual. 

   The district plans to fill the gap mainly by drawing from on-hand cash reserves and Rainy Day Fund savings. 

   Officials said the following measures, inspired by BCSC’s Continuous Improvement process, also will lighten some pressures on BCSC’s General Fund during these difficult times: 

  • Not replacing retirees, when possible.
  • Offering fewer sections of some courses at the high school level.
  • Reducing, or possibly eliminating, high school summer school offerings. Middle school summer school was discontinued last summer, but Beacon Summer School School will remain available to all elementary schools this summer through a grant.

    •    Officials hope the following factors will offset the cuts’ effect on the student-to-teacher ratio:

  • Declining enrollment: While the district usually enrolls about 100 new students each year, enrollment this fall dropped by nearly 150 students.
  • Physical education waiver: BCSC’s board in December approved a waiver that will allow some high school students to earn PE credits by participating in sports or marching band, reducing the demand on PE classes.
  • Dual-credit classes: The number of high schoolers taking dual-credit classes at local colleges is continuing to increase.

  • Online classes: Students who need to retake classes they have failed could take them online — rather than in the summer or the following semester.

    • Success took time

        Bennett said after talking to BCSC Superintendent John Quick, he learned the district’s success has come from years of ongoing budget analysis. 

       “Every school corporation is different,” he said. “And not everybody finds themselves with a cash balance right now or a Rainy Day Fund.” 
     
      Bennett said he was impressed by some of BCSC’s innovative cost-saving measures. 
     
      He said that while all BCSC employees pay the same health insurance premiums, the majority of school districts across the state charge administrators “much less” for health insurance than teachers. 

       Another effort praised by Bennett includes BCSC’s recently approved interlocal cooperation agreement with City of Columbus and Bartholomew County to share the cost of property tax calculation software that will help each entity determine the financial effect of the recently enacted circuit breaker. 

       By collaborating, each entity improves its service at minimal cost, he said. 

       Quick said Bennett’s recognition is a compliment to the school board, administration, teachers and “all the folks in the community who support BCSC.” 

       Pointing back to a budget crisis in the mid-1990s, Quick said a combination of proactive factors since have contributed to BCSC’s success. 

       Not the least of which includes a stable board and leadership, he said, and support from the teacher’s union and support staff. 

       “We’re humbled to be recognized, but it isn’t as easy as replicating what we’re doing,” Quick said. “Maybe over time, but every place has its unique set of circumstances. 

       “We don’t want to minimize that our fellow districts are hurting.”