By Emma Bowen Meyer, For The Herald Bulletin
PENDLETON - The South Madison School Board was questioned Thursday by parents about budget cuts that have decreased the number of teachers, but not the number of administrators.
In addition, the board made cuts in 40 extracurricular positions affecting numerous clubs and organizations.
Concerning the budget cuts, one parent, Joel Sandefur, voiced the concerns of several others, stating that the cuts were at the level which most impacted students.
Last spring, a reduction in force of eight teachers was made due to a financial crisis. A one-half position for a teacher was able to be reinstated this fall.
No administrative positions were cut, and a principal at the new intermediate school was added, according to Superintendent Thomas Warmke. Other than that addition, no new administrative positions have been added since 2001.
"The administration is not the problem," Warmke explained. "Insurance cost is the problem - and it's a negotiable item. Insurance costs are driving this district into bankruptcy. If you look at the state average for our expenditures for health insurance for our certified staff, it's above the 95th percentile. What we pay for administrators is below 50 percent."
He reported that the cost for a family plan is more than $22,000 - an increase of 21 percent from last year alone.
"We just can't afford that kind of increase every year," he said. "It's necessary to reduce staff."
As far as administrative employees, Warmke reported that the number of employees at the central office is average when compared with other Indiana districts of a similar size. He also stated that the financial layout of the positions is $34,000 below the state average.
"Teachers can't cry foul about class size when they have a health insurance plan that costs over $20,000 and I don't think too many residents of this corporation have that kind of health plan," he added.
In an attempt to cut more costs, approximately 40 positions for extracurricular activities were eliminated. In some cases, programs will end while others will continue with fewer sponsors.
Some programs have not been active in years and the elimination is only a formality, officials said. The district expects to save $18,000 through the cuts.
The recommendations for these cuts came from the individual buildings, meaning that a student council may be available at one elementary school and not another. Each principal was allowed to keep the strongest of the extracurricular programs within the school.
Board members asked if PTO funds could be used to save programs, and the response was positive.
Also, Shane Cline, parent of a fourth-grader at Pendleton Elementary, asked the board if her large class size was due to the redistricting.
Warmke answered that the arrangement was due to the needed reduction in teachers, not space at the building. He stated there was ample space for another classroom, but not enough funds to pay another teacher.