K-12 reductions require more Zionsville Community Schools cuts

There was a stark dichotomy at the Monday, Jan. 11, Zionsville Community Schools board meeting.

On the negative side, the necessity of cuts to the ZCS budget is more pronounced in light of the news that Gov. Mitch Daniels wants to reduce the state's K-12 school budget by $300 million.

Robison announced that $2.7 million in cuts would be necessary from the budget for 2010, $2.1 million from the general fund and approximately $650,000 from the property tax-generated funds; namely, transportation operating and capital projects.

Of the $2.1 million in cuts needed from the general fund, $1.5 million is the result of Daniels' request.

"That is our share of the $300 million the governor nixed," ZCS Chief Financial Officer Mike Shafer said.

Public schools' general funds are no longer financed through property tax revenue and have instead become the state's responsibility. The general fund is primarily made up of the salaries of personnel in a school system.

The $650,000 that needs to be cut from the property tax-generated funds is a result of the property tax caps, or "circuit breakers" that are coming into effect this year.

Robison has continued to meet with the Cost Cutting Committee, made up of 15 community members, in an effort to brainstorm possible areas for cuts. As always, he emphasized that they want to avoid teacher layoffs.

"People in the certified ranks here are the connections to the core mission," Robison said.

ZCS cut $2.6 million from the general fund in 2009, thanks to various initiatives, including the outsourcing of maintenance services to Sodexo and a partnership with St. Vincent's for nursing services.

This year, some cuts have already been ordered.

Robison said that a 10 percent reduction in supplies and materials have been ordered, with savings of $160,000. A "dark campus" plan was instituted over winter break, in which thermostat temperatures were set back and all extraneous offices and operations were closed. Robison said the dark campus plan will be used again for spring break and for two weeks during the summer.

At last month's meeting, the board authorized Robison to look into hiring a firm to consider the possible need for a referendum. As of yet, a firm has not been hired, as Robison said preliminary estimates have come in above the "not to exceed" figure of $10,000 the board allocated last month.

Shafer announced a "memorandum of understanding" was reached Monday afternoon with the Zionsville Educators Association (the teachers union for ZCS) in which an early retirement incentive would be offered to those teachers who are at least 55 old and have served 10 or more years in the school system.

The early retirement incentive was also offered in last year and will be identical to the incentive offered this year. Last year, four teachers took the option, savings ZCS approximately $217,000. Shafer said 40 teachers are eligible for the incentive this year.

"There is a substantial opportunity for savings here," he said.

Last year, of the 13 teachers who left (whether through resignation, retirement or the incentive), only five were not replaced, Shafer said. This year, he wasn't as sure how many would be replaced.

"We'll have to look at that on a case-by-case basis," he said.

Robison, Shafer and ZCS administration are in ongoing discussions with ZEA leadership on a possible salary moratorium to hold down costs, as well.

On the positive end, Zionsville Community High School Principal Chris Willis reported that ZCHS graduates 96.5 percent of its students, good for 10th overall in the state. Among schools with at least 200 students in the graduating class, ZCHS was first in the state in graduation rate.

"This is some really good news for us," Willis said.

ZCS Superintendent Scott Robison agreed.

"We're blessed with motivated youth, who come from homes where educational attainment really means something," he said. "And we have sources of support in our schools, whether programs, services or affiliations, that help push people across the line - or run across the line, as most of our students do. It makes it fun to come to work."

Willis presented another bit of positive news, reporting that for 2010, U.S. News and World Report listed ZCHS as one of America's Best High Schools in its annual rankings. Only 30 Indiana high schools out of 366 in the state garnered such an honor.

ZCHS was cited specifically for its ability to get its students ready for college.