By Daniel Human
TIPTON – All areas are open to cuts for Tipton School Corp., which is considering cutting up to 11 jobs.
The layoffs were one way the school board suggested it compensate for an estimated budget deficit by the end of 2010 of about $700,000 in its general fund, which has an annual revenue of roughly $10 million.
During Tuesday night’s school board meeting, which moved to the high school’s cafeteria to accommodate a larger crowd, Superintendent David Bergdoll emphasized that all of the proposed cuts are speculative.
But the notion of faculty members losing their jobs left parents and teachers pleading with the board to consider other options.
Craig Frawley, a Tipton Middle School seventh-grade teacher, said a lack of a decision about how to handle the deficit has left him wondering what he needs to do next year.
Frawley, a 2005 Tipton High School graduate who is in his first year of teaching, would likely be among the 11 teachers cut.
The board said the job reductions would be based off certification and seniority, meaning if the school cut one position from a department, it would be the person who has been with the department the shortest time.
“I want to know what’s going to happen as soon as possible,” he said, adding he has begun searching for another job in case he loses his. “… The school year is over in 2 1/2 months. What am I going to do in two months?”
Board President Ken Ehman said the state approved the schools’ budget two weeks ago, which is why there has not been any action.
Bergdoll said the school is legally required to let permanently and semi-permanently laid-off teachers know about their job losses by May 1. The school has until June 1 for non-permanent job losses.
Others in attendance suggested the school look at more creative ways to cut money instead of letting go of teachers. Several people suggested the school corporation look at cutting from administration.
The board members mentioned ways to save money, such as asking teachers to unplug appliances. They deflected questions about using money from the athletics or transportation budgets, saying they are not legally allowed to move money from those funds to the general budget.
Assistant Superintendent Robert Schultz said the cuts will be a balance between providing students with the programs they need and not spending outside the school corporation’s financial limits. The board expects to receive roughly $1 million less each year from now on.
Schultz referred to the state’s announcement in February that it was the 17th straight month its revenues were below projections and it has been spending $2 million more per day than it is taking in.
“We have not seen the last cut to schools,” he said.
• Daniel Human is a Kokomo Tribune staff writer. He can be reached at 765-454-8570 or via e-mail daniel.human@ kokomotribune.com.
