Teacher cuts likely in Porter Township schools

PORTER TOWNSHIP | Reduction of the equivalent of five and a half teaching positions at Boone Grove High School was among possible courses of action to address a sharp general fund budget cut discussed during a grim Porter Township School Corp. board meeting Thursday.

Superintendent Nick Brown told the board the reduction of an additional five positions at the middle school, one at the elementary level and a number of nonteaching positions also was being explored. But such cuts would not even make up half of the budget shortfall the district faces, he said.

The district's $9.7 million general fund budget for 2009 was reduced to about $9.3 million for 2010. Then, Gov. Mitch Daniels' call late last year for further cuts to public education resulted in a reduction to about $8.9 million. The $800,000 total cut represents an almost 9 percent reduction.

The general fund, the district's largest fund, covers operating costs including salaries, benefits, insurance, supplies and utilities.

Boone Grove High School employed the equivalent of 26.5 full-time teachers in 2008-09.

The need to cut comes on the heels of several years of frugality, Brown said. The district has reduced staffing through attrition, eliminated an assistant principal position and other positions, reduced professional development, trimmed administrative salaries and frozen other spending, he said.

Positions would be lost, Brown said, and the teachers association is getting input from its members on ways to address the situation.

Athletic Director Doug Knutson outlined for the board possible ways to generate revenue, including increased fees or ticket prices.

The district last week put on hold plans to explore renovations at Porter Lakes Elementary School. The initiative to address overcrowding at the school would wait at least six months until the School Board has a clearer understanding of the implications of the budget reduction, Brown said.

Recent fluctuations in the township's assessed valuation make future funding levels in the capital projects fund uncertain, he said.

Also, the district is awaiting the outcome of a proposal before the General Assembly to permit some cross-fund transfers of money to shore up depleted general funds. If that idea were approved, the district might move money from capital projects, leaving less for a renovation project, Brown said.