Dave Stafford, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer
ANDERSON — Frankton-Lapel Community Schools is among the few that might be able to avoid laying off teachers in this year of steep education budget cuts statewide, Superintendent Bobby Fields said Friday.
“We’re going to reduce some of our staffing costs through two teachers retiring,” Fields said. “We’re really not going to have to (lay off) any teachers or staff.”
Fields presented the Frankton-Lapel Community Schools board on Thursday with some early results of a money-saving conservation plan the schools put into effect at the beginning of January.
By turning off all outside lights at 10 p.m., turning off computers at night and taking other measures, the district’s electric bill was $6,000 less in January compared with last January, and $8,000 less than the bill in December, Fields said.
The schools also dialed back thermostats, which should save money on the gas bill, he said.
“We were hoping to realize $50,000 in savings” in a year, Fields said. “Based on the first month’s estimated savings, I think we’re going to realize quite a bit more.”
Fields said Frankton-Lapel is in a fortunate financial position compared with other school districts around the state that are facing steep cuts. “We’re in a situation where we’ve got lots of kids transferring in, and that’s greatly helped us this year in funding.”
On average statewide, each transfer tuition student represents about $6,000 in state school funding.
The board on Thursday also accepted 55 transfer tuition students for the next school year for Lapel Elementary, Lapel Middle School, Frankton Elementary and Frankton Jr./Sr. High School. “That will be an increase next year,” Fields said. Of the 55 transfers, Fields said about 50 were from students currently enrolled in Anderson Community Schools.