By TARA HETTINGER, Evening News
Tara.Hettinger@newsandtribune.com
In an effort to help make up a $400,000 shortfall in the 2009 budget, Clarksville Community Schools Corp. Board of Trustees voted to lay off seven teachers Monday night in a special meeting, effective at the end of the 2008-09 school year.
Kim Knott, interim superintendent, said classified cuts - which includes secretaries, custodians and teacher aides - should follow. She expects to make a recommendation on those reductions June 9.
Knott said the corporation is also working on administrative reorganization to save more money.
The special meeting Monday lasted less than five minutes, with personnel being the only item on the agenda. Knott said her recommendation came after a lot of dialog with others and some soul searching on her part.
"I truly believe that we all have come to the agreement that clearly we have a financial dilemma that we must resolve," Knott told the board and the few people that sat in the audience. "Unfortunately, the problem is few of us can agree on what that solution is."
She said that this is a difficult situation for any superintendent, regardless of his or her experience in that role.
James Bemiss, board vice president, said the cuts are painful, but better than the original 10 letters sent out to people that they may be laid off.
"It's not impossible that there may be call backs yet to come," Bemiss said, pausing. "I wish it wasn't like this, but it's a reality we have to deal with."
Trish Vogel, president of the teachers' association as well as a teacher at Clarksville High School, was one of the people at the meeting.
"I understand the need to balance the budget," Vogel said. "I never feel it's good to cut teachers, but I'm content with the decision."
She said the seven fewer positions is better than the original 10, but that it will still hurt class sizes.
Bill Wilson, president of the school board, said after the meeting that the cuts aren't over yet.
"Given the financial situation we're in ... we've done the best we can do and it will be spread across the board," he said. "It's not just the teachers that will suffer. It's going to be in every area.
"We've tried to make it as fair as we can and we're still in that process right now."
Knott said the cuts are based on having a flatlined budget from the state. She said if the school system gets less funding, she feels that she's prepared for it, but it could mean more cuts.
The school board will meet again tonight for a planning session, at 7:30 at Clarksville Middle School.