At a glance

On Monday, the Benton Community School Corp. board approved the first of three phases of reductions that will help the district cope with state cuts and rein in ongoing deficit spending.

Here's what will be cut in the first phase, along with what has been proposed to be cut in the next two phases and what those cuts would save.

Phase one, 2010

  • Reduce elementary art, music and physical education from twice a week to once a week.

  • Eliminate the Prairie Crossing Elementary counselor position.
  • Eliminate one special education aide position.
  • Reduce classroom aides from 6 1/2 hours to six hours per day.
  • Reduce choir and band teacher positions to part-time contracts.
  • Reduce energy costs, including by instituting a four-day workweek during the summer.
  • Reduce custodial costs through eliminating a part-time Prairie Crossing custodian position, outsourcing central office cleaning and utilizing part-time custodial workers for weekend events instead of paying overtime.
  • Eliminate paid holidays for secretarial staff.
  • Offer an early retirement incentive for teachers.
  • Eliminate contributions to the Public Employees Retirement Fund for new aides and eliminate contributions to health insurance for new secretaries. (Current employees will be grandfathered in.)
  • Make athletics cover its transportation costs.
  • Eliminate field trips.
  • Eliminate some coaching and extra-curricular positions.
    Total phase one savings: $610,488


    Phase two, 2011
  • Add one period per day to Benton Central's schedule; fewer teachers will be needed with each teacher leading one more class.
  • Eliminate the high school assistant principal position.
  • Eliminate federal stimulus-funded positions.
  • Reduce extracurricular positions by 30 percent.
  • Stop providing transportation for students at Sacred Heart School, a Catholic elementary.
    Total phase two savings: $369,664

    Phase three, 2012
  • Close Boswell Elementary.
  • Eliminate remaining extra-curricular positions.
  • Close the swimming pool and eliminate swimming coaches' positions.

    Total phase three savings: $654,639
    •
    Meranda Watling, Journal & Courier

    FOWLER -- A murmur of disappointment traveled through the crowd of more than 50 parents, teachers and Benton County citizens on Monday when the school board approved the first of three phases of cost reductions.

    Many of the sighs were from parents disappointed not only with the first phase of cuts, which are projected to save $610,000 through a slew of reductions to benefits, programs and staff. Those cuts include nine teaching positions.