Whitko Unveils Plan To Cut Budget
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Daniel [email protected]
Clason unveiled what is titled "Plan A - Reductions Caused by Loss of State Revenue" during Whitko school board's monthly meeting.[[In-content Ad]]"I like to say this plan is etched in jello," said Clason. "It can change."
Clason said the plan was devised with the question, "Could we run school next year?"
The plan can change based on: retirements, voluntary leaves, salary reductions and income changes such as state revenue.
Clason also told everyone in attendance that the plan could change based on ideas brought to him and Tom McFarland, the school's chief business officer.
Under Plan A, preschool would be eliminated at both South Whitley and Pierceton elementary schools.
At Pierceton, where Clason said the plan would have the greatest impact, there would be 2-1/2 less sections or classes and class sizes would increase in grades four and five.
Under the plan, 10 teachers would be gone at Pierceton with two retiring, two being shared with South Whitley and six moving to other buildings.
The library at Pierceton would also see a freeze in materials, secretarial and health clerks hours/and or days would be reduced and custodial hours and literacy coaching hours would be reduced as well.
At South Whitley Elementary, there would be two less classes with class sizes increasing in grades three and four.
Staff hours at SWES also would be reduced.
At Whitko Middle School, there would be six less teachers with two positions reduced and four others moved to different positions.
Class sizes would increase and there would be restructured class scheduling with less prep time for teachers.
The increased class sizes at the middle school would mean less language arts and math classes. This was a bone of contention for parents on students on hand.
While no teacher was named in Clason's presentation, if the plan passes as is, parents and teachers decried the possible elimination of seventh-grade geometry taught by Erin Eastgate.
"(Eastgate) always has new techniques and new ideas to make us learn," said seventh-grader Delaney Wray.
"Our biggest concern is we have to keep quality teachers," said Wray's mother, Tina Wray.
Clason noted that Eastgate's students test scores are "off the charts".
Most parents argued against using seniority to determine what teachers to keep and which ones to get rid of.
"I find it very disturbing to see these up-and-coming teachers have to be let go," said parent Scott Worstler.
"I hear all the cutting going on at the lower end," said parent Marv Michael. "I have a problem with teachers who have been there too long. You always hear about the lower end. What about the top end?"
"I'm pretty sure there are teachers who have retired out of the classroom but haven't handed in their resignation yet," said parent Valerie Warner.
Warner, along with several other parents, worried the cuts would hurt high-ability students, citing Eastgate's class, and make it harder for them to succeed after they left the Whitko school system.
A retirement incentive will be offered to teachers who file for retirement between April 1 and May 1.
Those teachers must be at the top of the salary schedule and meet the rule of 80 (age + experience totaling at least 80).
One of the options would be an $18,000 cash option paid out in three $6,000 installments.
Currently, 35 of the 110-plus teachers in Whitko Schools meet the rule of 80 requirement.
Clason said buyouts would not immediately save the school system money but may in the future.
One audience member, who did not give her name but identified herself as a pharmacist, asked Clason and the school board if switching insurance providers or increasing teacher's deductible had been considered.
Clason said McFarland was working with insurance providers.
McFarland said the school's health insurance has always been a way to attract teachers despite a lower salary.
Clason noted that Whitko teachers have averaged less than 1 percent in salary increases over the past 10 years.
Teacher's health insurance currently has a $500 deductible.
In terms of athletics, Plan A gave a pay-to-play proposal for athletes with scholarships made available. The plan would also combine freshman and junior varsity teams.
Rob Irwin would be the athletic director not only for the high school but the middle school as well.
Under Plan A, no sports program would be eliminated.
Clason said he was hoping to hear from parents and teachers to give ideas that could modify Plan A.
Betty Overdeer, president of the Whitko Community Teacher's Association, said she appreciated the leadership of Clason but said she couldn't agree with all the choices of Plan A.
Overdeer pointed out that she couldn't support non-certified teachers teaching things like music and physical education.
"I ask all of you to complain to your legislators cause that's where the problem lies," said Overdeer.
Overdeer said there is some possible changes to Plan A that will be proposed by the teacher's union.
The school board set a tentative date for a public meeting for parents and students to give more input about Plan A.
The meeting is scheduled for March 29 at 7 p.m. at Whitko Middle School in Larwill.
Voluntary leaves will be offered to teachers immediately, according to Clason.
The corporation will work on retirement buyouts with the teacher's association.
Formal notices to teachers of their possible staff reductions will be sent out in the first two weeks of April.
At the school board's April 19 meeting, an action on a plan will be taken while staff reductions will be dealt with at the May school board meeting.
Clason posted Plan A on his blog, which can be found at http://wildcatssuperblog.blogspot.com/
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Clason unveiled what is titled "Plan A - Reductions Caused by Loss of State Revenue" during Whitko school board's monthly meeting.[[In-content Ad]]"I like to say this plan is etched in jello," said Clason. "It can change."
Clason said the plan was devised with the question, "Could we run school next year?"
The plan can change based on: retirements, voluntary leaves, salary reductions and income changes such as state revenue.
Clason also told everyone in attendance that the plan could change based on ideas brought to him and Tom McFarland, the school's chief business officer.
Under Plan A, preschool would be eliminated at both South Whitley and Pierceton elementary schools.
At Pierceton, where Clason said the plan would have the greatest impact, there would be 2-1/2 less sections or classes and class sizes would increase in grades four and five.
Under the plan, 10 teachers would be gone at Pierceton with two retiring, two being shared with South Whitley and six moving to other buildings.
The library at Pierceton would also see a freeze in materials, secretarial and health clerks hours/and or days would be reduced and custodial hours and literacy coaching hours would be reduced as well.
At South Whitley Elementary, there would be two less classes with class sizes increasing in grades three and four.
Staff hours at SWES also would be reduced.
At Whitko Middle School, there would be six less teachers with two positions reduced and four others moved to different positions.
Class sizes would increase and there would be restructured class scheduling with less prep time for teachers.
The increased class sizes at the middle school would mean less language arts and math classes. This was a bone of contention for parents on students on hand.
While no teacher was named in Clason's presentation, if the plan passes as is, parents and teachers decried the possible elimination of seventh-grade geometry taught by Erin Eastgate.
"(Eastgate) always has new techniques and new ideas to make us learn," said seventh-grader Delaney Wray.
"Our biggest concern is we have to keep quality teachers," said Wray's mother, Tina Wray.
Clason noted that Eastgate's students test scores are "off the charts".
Most parents argued against using seniority to determine what teachers to keep and which ones to get rid of.
"I find it very disturbing to see these up-and-coming teachers have to be let go," said parent Scott Worstler.
"I hear all the cutting going on at the lower end," said parent Marv Michael. "I have a problem with teachers who have been there too long. You always hear about the lower end. What about the top end?"
"I'm pretty sure there are teachers who have retired out of the classroom but haven't handed in their resignation yet," said parent Valerie Warner.
Warner, along with several other parents, worried the cuts would hurt high-ability students, citing Eastgate's class, and make it harder for them to succeed after they left the Whitko school system.
A retirement incentive will be offered to teachers who file for retirement between April 1 and May 1.
Those teachers must be at the top of the salary schedule and meet the rule of 80 (age + experience totaling at least 80).
One of the options would be an $18,000 cash option paid out in three $6,000 installments.
Currently, 35 of the 110-plus teachers in Whitko Schools meet the rule of 80 requirement.
Clason said buyouts would not immediately save the school system money but may in the future.
One audience member, who did not give her name but identified herself as a pharmacist, asked Clason and the school board if switching insurance providers or increasing teacher's deductible had been considered.
Clason said McFarland was working with insurance providers.
McFarland said the school's health insurance has always been a way to attract teachers despite a lower salary.
Clason noted that Whitko teachers have averaged less than 1 percent in salary increases over the past 10 years.
Teacher's health insurance currently has a $500 deductible.
In terms of athletics, Plan A gave a pay-to-play proposal for athletes with scholarships made available. The plan would also combine freshman and junior varsity teams.
Rob Irwin would be the athletic director not only for the high school but the middle school as well.
Under Plan A, no sports program would be eliminated.
Clason said he was hoping to hear from parents and teachers to give ideas that could modify Plan A.
Betty Overdeer, president of the Whitko Community Teacher's Association, said she appreciated the leadership of Clason but said she couldn't agree with all the choices of Plan A.
Overdeer pointed out that she couldn't support non-certified teachers teaching things like music and physical education.
"I ask all of you to complain to your legislators cause that's where the problem lies," said Overdeer.
Overdeer said there is some possible changes to Plan A that will be proposed by the teacher's union.
The school board set a tentative date for a public meeting for parents and students to give more input about Plan A.
The meeting is scheduled for March 29 at 7 p.m. at Whitko Middle School in Larwill.
Voluntary leaves will be offered to teachers immediately, according to Clason.
The corporation will work on retirement buyouts with the teacher's association.
Formal notices to teachers of their possible staff reductions will be sent out in the first two weeks of April.
At the school board's April 19 meeting, an action on a plan will be taken while staff reductions will be dealt with at the May school board meeting.
Clason posted Plan A on his blog, which can be found at http://wildcatssuperblog.blogspot.com/
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