CROWN POINT | As Crown Point school district asks voters to increase taxes in a general fund referendum on May 3, it is sending preliminary RIF notices to 48 teachers.
Art Henderlong, ISTA UniServ director who works with the Crown Point classroom teachers association, said 48 teachers have received Reduction in Force (RIF) letters. A RIF letter provides notice that depending on such factors as budget and enrollment, a teacher may not be retained for the following school year. However, many teachers get the notices but continue to teach after the budget is finalized. The law requires that in a legislative budget year, teachers must be notified by June 15.
Crown Point personnel director John Williams cautioned the letters are just preliminary at this point.
Henderlong said Crown Point teachers are receiving letters now. He said the plan has been under discussion since last month.
Late last year, the Crown Point School Board authorized a referendum calling for a property tax increase of up to 21 cents per $100 of assessed value. Revenue from the increase would raise $5 million to avert a school budget deficit in the face of diminishing state aid, and staff and services would not have to be cut, school officials have said.
"One of the major issues is state funding," Henderlong said. "There is not enough funding. If the general fund referendum that Crown Point is asking for doesn't pass, they could have a looming financial disaster. They have to do something to make sure they are not overspending their budget. Forty-eight teachers and the programs they teach and run are hanging by a thread. It's in the hands of voters whether or not they approve the referendum."
Henderlong said Crown Point is being punished for its success. He said it has growing enrollment but it doesn't have an increased number of students receiving free and reduced lunch.
"The state funding formula doesn't help Crown Point at all. It's a shame. They have built a wonderful program and an excellent school corporation. People who are coming to Crown Point are going to suffer if the referendum doesn't pass. The number of teachers who are RIFed could go up," Henderlong said.
Crown Point School officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Cindy Miller, president of the Crown Point Teachers Association, also couldn't be reached.