FORTVILLE — After months of speculation and seeking alternatives, the Mt. Vernon School Board has announced another round of possible layoffs.

In all, 22 teaching positions are included in the district’s plan to reduce expenses.

Because of some retirements, 19 teachers will be notified that the board will consider canceling their teaching contracts on May 23. Additional notices may be issued if the list of teachers changes due to bumping rights under the policy.

The newest layoff represents a potential savings of about $650,000 via the loss of 13.5 teachers. It breaks down to 3.5 teachers at Fortville Elementary, 1.5 teachers at Mt. Comfort Elementary, 2.5 teachers at McCordsville Elementary, five teachers at the high school and one teacher at Mt. Vernon Middle School. A previous layoff of six positions included two art and two music teachers.

The loss of the teachers at MV was part of a larger proposal provided by superintendent Bill Riggs and approved unanimously by the board on Monday night. The cuts, Riggs said, will help the district reach its initial $1.5 million savings goal.

Previously, the board approved changes that included the temporary two-year closure of the Fortville Elementary School building and moving staff and students to the Mt. Vernon Intermediate School building. The board also temporarily suspended the Intermediate School program and flipped the elementary and secondary school start times so elementary students start school before the middle and high school students. Those previously approved changes were part of a package deal recommended by Riggs.

On Monday, the school board addressed the separate items within the overall recommendation, most of which were approved.

One of the most jarring prospects for district parents is likely to be the creation of the Pay-to-Participate program for all extracurricular activities. Student fees will be: $225 per student per sport; $25 per person per club for all high school non-sports; $100 per student for middle school (grades 6-8) sports; $25 per student per activity in the middle school; and $15 per student per activity at the elementaries.

“(There will be) no discounts for students who participate in multiple sports or non-athletic programs,” Riggs explained. “If not enough students participate in a sport, activity, club, group or team, either the group will pay the balance of the cost or activity will be canceled. If the activity is canceled by the corporation, students will receive a refund. Otherwise, participation fees are non-refundable. The idea is to have them independently funded.”

But some administrators are hopeful that the pay-to-play concept won’t shape high school sports. According to MVHS principal Bernie Campbell, $10,000 has already been raised to help students participate in athletics.

Beginning at the next school year, there will be a charge for all non-school groups for the full cost of operation for each rented facility. According to Riggs, this could save up to $109,570.

Additionally, the school will continue all of the facility, supply and technology cost-saving measures currently in place. There will be a four day work week from June 1 to July 31 and no use of the buildings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The buildings will be cleared out by 7 p.m., and the use of heating and lights in the buildings will be reduced.

“Thermostat (will be set at) 75 degrees in summer and 68 degrees in winter (and) set at 78 degrees and 64 degrees in off hours,” Riggs said.

The pool will be closed for three weeks during the summer, and minimal amounts of classroom, office and custodial supplies will be ordered.

The continued implementation of those cost saving activities will not result in more savings.

“But it does continue the savings we’ve had,” Riggs added.

To save even more money, activities like fundraising are also facing the axe.

“We’ll restrict fundraising activities designed to raise money for any purpose other than direct support for the school district,” Riggs said.

“We’ll contract with a driving school to provide driver’s training for the 2011-2012 school year,” Riggs said.

That could lead to about $67,000 in appropriation savings.

“(The schools) will freeze custodian’s wages at the current level and eliminate the four hours of weekly overtime for a potential savings of $98,000,” Riggs said.
Combined with the proposals approved in March, the school district could save almost $2 million in the general fund. But the board chose to table discussion regarding changes to bus drivers and bus aides at the request of board member Paul Riddle.
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