In an economy such as this, jobs are being cut and people are being asked to do more with less.
For schools in Lincoln County, that is true for districts and those who teach in those districts.
Rita Palmer, Meeker superintendent, said she has already made cuts, including custodians.
“We will make it through (2010). I did let one custodian go,” she said. “The teachers have been impacted because they’re cleaning their own rooms. We’ve asked teachers to work gates, at their mercy.”
Working gates and cleaning rooms are just two of the steps Palmer has taken. She has also limited substitutes for when teachers are unable to work.
“That’s our main goal is to educate our kids,” she said. “That’s got to have an impact. My teachers are not affected financially. We are limiting substitutes. Half days aren’t being hired.”
Instead, teachers are covering for one another during planning periods and lunch to cover the classes in a teacher’s absence, Palmer said.
“We’re just not hiring substitutes if we don’t have to,” she said. “It’s just tough times, but we’ll deal with it. Without staff, it won’t work.”
In Prague, Superintendent Rick Martin said he anticipates the district may see about $400,000 in cuts.
“That’s what I’m anticipating,” he said. “When are they going to use Rainy Day?”
Without funding, Prague will have to take further action.
“If the cuts stay like this now and through next year, we’re going to lose staff,” Martin said, who added larger class sizes and staff losing jobs may not be avoidable.
“Will there be reductions in staff? Classes cut because of lack of funding,” he asked.
There’s just so many unknowns at this point, Martin said.
“Like next year, what flexibility is the legislature going to give us,” he asked. “Will they allow us to take textbook money and use it to pay teachers? I don’t have that answer right now.”
Instead of paying $9 per student for library books, the district could use that money and keep another teacher on staff, Martin said.
“There’s just so many unknowns at this point. There’s so many variables,” he said. “It’s just so hard to see right now what we have to do.”
Don Gray, Chandler superintendent, said the district is trying to get by without changing too much.
“We’re doing everything we can to make cuts outside the classroom and maintain the integrity of the classrooms,” he said.
Instead of getting supplies or computers, those projects won’t be done, they’ll get put on the back burner, Gray said. The district will be able to make it through fiscal year 2010, but it will probably have to tap into the carryover to do that.
“We shouldn’t have any problems making it through fiscal year 2010,” he said. “We’re not sure about 2011.”
Because of having less funding, Palmer said she is being conservative.
“I’m not spending money. I would say 95 percent that’s going through the district is title money, grant money, stimulus money,” she said. “I’ve been extremely conservative.”
In 2009, three teachers were “RIFed,” (Reductions in Force), Palmer said.
“Will I look at more, I don’t know yet,” she said. “It’s just tight. I’m looking at my budget now, going through and seeing where I’m at.”
The state is appropriating less and less money, Palmer said.
“I’m looking at what has not been given out from appropriations,” she said.
Students may not be able to notice things as much in Chandler with budget cuts, Gray said, but did add changes have been made.
The district is cutting out longer activity trips and on the ones taken, instead of taking three buses, schools may only take one or two, he said.
“Especially the long trips, we may cut back on some of those,” Gray said. “We’ve cut back on field trips. We have more teachers covering classes, instead of hiring subs.”
The staff has done a good job of conserving electricity, energy, copy paper, to not spend as much on those items, he said. The district, last year, had some attrition of staff positions. Because of this, so far, class size has not been increased.
“We’ve maintained our class sizes, we’ve maintained our teachers, except for a couple from attrition,” Gray said. “Our class sizes have been what they’ve always been.”
If the budget crisis continues, it will be more difficult on schools across the state, he said.
“It will be more and more difficult to maintain the integrity of the classroom and staffing,” Gray said. “We may not be able to maintain that. For me, looking forward, 2011 is probably going to be the most critical. Carryover funds will be depleted going into 2011. 2010 taken care of, FY 11 is the one that concerns me.”
As far as next year, Palmer is not sure what will happen.
While she said the district will have some carryover from this year, it will only go so far.
“I’m not sure where I’m going to be on carryover,” Palmer said. “If they keep cutting our money, we’ll keep cutting somewhere. If they tap into the Rainy Day fund and we get the money we should get, that’s good. I’m just going to go along with them.”
Staffing may also come into play when thinking about next year, she said.
“I’m going to retain as much staff as I can,” Palmer said. “I just hope they come back with something. Other than that, we’re hanging on.”
———
Josh Burton may be reached by calling 214-3926.
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In an economy such as this, jobs are being cut and people are being asked to do more with less.
For schools in Lincoln County, that is true for districts and those who teach in those districts.
Rita Palmer, Meeker superintendent, said she has already made cuts, including custodians.
“We will make it through (2010). I did let one custodian go,” she said. “The teachers have been impacted because they’re cleaning their own rooms. We’ve asked teachers to work gates, at their mercy.”
Working gates and cleaning rooms are just two of the steps Palmer has taken. She has also limited substitutes for when teachers are unable to work.
“That’s our main goal is to educate our kids,” she said. “That’s got to have an impact. My teachers are not affected financially. We are limiting substitutes. Half days aren’t being hired.”
Instead, teachers are covering for one another during planning periods and lunch to cover the classes in a teacher’s absence, Palmer said.
“We’re just not hiring substitutes if we don’t have to,” she said. “It’s just tough times, but we’ll deal with it. Without staff, it won’t work.”
In Prague, Superintendent Rick Martin said he anticipates the district may see about $400,000 in cuts.
“That’s what I’m anticipating,” he said. “When are they going to use Rainy Day?”
Without funding, Prague will have to take further action.
“If the cuts stay like this now and through next year, we’re going to lose staff,” Martin said, who added larger class sizes and staff losing jobs may not be avoidable.
“Will there be reductions in staff? Classes cut because of lack of funding,” he asked.
There’s just so many unknowns at this point, Martin said.
“Like next year, what flexibility is the legislature going to give us,” he asked. “Will they allow us to take textbook money and use it to pay teachers? I don’t have that answer right now.”
Instead of paying $9 per student for library books, the district could use that money and keep another teacher on staff, Martin said.
“There’s just so many unknowns at this point. There’s so many variables,” he said. “It’s just so hard to see right now what we have to do.”
Don Gray, Chandler superintendent, said the district is trying to get by without changing too much.
“We’re doing everything we can to make cuts outside the classroom and maintain the integrity of the classrooms,” he said.
Instead of getting supplies or computers, those projects won’t be done, they’ll get put on the back burner, Gray said. The district will be able to make it through fiscal year 2010, but it will probably have to tap into the carryover to do that.
“We shouldn’t have any problems making it through fiscal year 2010,” he said. “We’re not sure about 2011.”
Because of having less funding, Palmer said she is being conservative.
“I’m not spending money. I would say 95 percent that’s going through the district is title money, grant money, stimulus money,” she said. “I’ve been extremely conservative.”
In 2009, three teachers were “RIFed,” (Reductions in Force), Palmer said.
“Will I look at more, I don’t know yet,” she said. “It’s just tight. I’m looking at my budget now, going through and seeing where I’m at.”
The state is appropriating less and less money, Palmer said.
“I’m looking at what has not been given out from appropriations,” she said.
Students may not be able to notice things as much in Chandler with budget cuts, Gray said, but did add changes have been made.
The district is cutting out longer activity trips and on the ones taken, instead of taking three buses, schools may only take one or two, he said.
“Especially the long trips, we may cut back on some of those,” Gray said. “We’ve cut back on field trips. We have more teachers covering classes, instead of hiring subs.”
The staff has done a good job of conserving electricity, energy, copy paper, to not spend as much on those items, he said. The district, last year, had some attrition of staff positions. Because of this, so far, class size has not been increased.
“We’ve maintained our class sizes, we’ve maintained our teachers, except for a couple from attrition,” Gray said. “Our class sizes have been what they’ve always been.”
If the budget crisis continues, it will be more difficult on schools across the state, he said.
“It will be more and more difficult to maintain the integrity of the classroom and staffing,” Gray said. “We may not be able to maintain that. For me, looking forward, 2011 is probably going to be the most critical. Carryover funds will be depleted going into 2011. 2010 taken care of, FY 11 is the one that concerns me.”
As far as next year, Palmer is not sure what will happen.
While she said the district will have some carryover from this year, it will only go so far.
“I’m not sure where I’m going to be on carryover,” Palmer said. “If they keep cutting our money, we’ll keep cutting somewhere. If they tap into the Rainy Day fund and we get the money we should get, that’s good. I’m just going to go along with them.”
Staffing may also come into play when thinking about next year, she said.
“I’m going to retain as much staff as I can,” Palmer said. “I just hope they come back with something. Other than that, we’re hanging on.”
———
Josh Burton may be reached by calling 214-3926.
