NEW PALESTINE — With public education in crisis mode, the ability to trim $1.4 million without cutting student programs or increasing class size is nothing short of remarkable, says Southern Hancock School Board member Kevin Harvey. 
 
   “I don’t think any of us … thought that would be possible,” Harvey said. 

    That’s the good news. The bad news is that Harvey, along with the rest of the school board, voted unanimously Monday to approve budget cuts for the 2010 school year that eliminates 17 full-time teaching positions and makes five other teaching positions part time. In all, 22 teachers will be affected. 

    “With each one of these (layoffs), there’s a personal story involved, and it
makes it very difficult,” Harvey said. 

    Among those losing their jobs are some familiar faces: Cathy Sutton, longtime media specialist at New Palestine High School; and Doug Armstrong, a physical-education teacher at the high school who formerly was varsity football coach. Another popular teacher, Jamie Wingler, will have his position reduced to part time. Wingler is a P.E. teacher at Doe Creek Middle School who is coach of the high school’s state-ranked wrestling team. 

    The cuts are effective at the end of the school year. 

    Overall, the complex package calls for 45 changes in school procedures and cutbacks that balance the school’s budget, for now. 

    “This plan is not perfect, and there are going to be some things where we’re going to come back that we will need to do differently,” SH Superintendent Jim Halik admitted. 
 
    Anticipating a shortfall, the district had already trimmed $300,000 from the budget last summer. 

    However, in January, officials were told by the state the district would have to reduce operating expenses by a total of $1.7 million, leaving $1.4 left to cut. 
  
    The teachers association, which also includes the district’s administrators, cut several areas that will save an estimated $600,000. 

    Teachers and administrators have agreed to no increase in salary for the next two years, which will save an estimated $200,000. 

    They’ve also agreed to cut the $350,000 extracurricular activity salary line item in half to $175,000 without cutting activities for students. 

    Plus, they will also take a 2 percent cut in their annuities, saving $200,000.
© 2024 Daily Reporter