FWCS doing math on cuts | The News-Sentinel

Last updated: Tue. Mar. 09, 2010 - 10:58 am EDT

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FWCS doing math on cuts

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FWCS meetings

♦Elmhurst information meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Elmhurst, 3829 Sand Point Road

♦Pleasant Center information meeting at 6 p.m. March 16 at Pleasant Center, 2323 W. Pleasant Center Road

♦Public discussion meeting at 6 p.m. March 18 at Grile Administration Center, 1200 S. Clinton St.

By Sarah Janssen

As the Fort Wayne Community Schools board looks at ways the district can cut $15 million from its $217.15 million budget, members heard from those opposed to outsourcing custodial work.

Four speakers, including two FWCS custodians and a local resident, Monday night urged the board to consider the negative effects of outsourcing custodial work. Outsourcing is one suggestion the district has for cutting costs. It also has public hearings planned on the possible closure of Elmhurst High School and Pleasant Center Elementary. Even with those closures, which would start this fall, and other suggested cuts, the district is $2 million short of the target, which may have to come from teachers' jobs.

Monday night, the board approved retirements, resignations and terminations. The number of employees leaving the district is 80, while 30 people will be hired. Of the 80 employees who are leaving, 61 were paid from the general funds budget, from which the $15 million in cuts must come.

It is not likely the personnel changes alone will help the district reach $15 million. Superintendent Wendy Robinson said at the board meeting that the district has about 70 employees leave per year. These numbers are already factored into the budget, so unless the district sees a significant increase in employees leaving, this will not affect the budget.

Also at the meeting, the board honored two FWCS teachers, Cynthia Helmkamp of Anthis Career Center and Cheryl Rotruck of Jefferson Middle School, who received $8,000 awards through the Lilly Endowment's Teacher Creativity Fellowship program. The two were among 120 statewide recipients of the grants, allowing them to pursue personal interests.

The board also recognized students and teachers from Blackhawk Middle School for winning the Northeast Indiana Regional Future City Competition on Jan. 16 at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. The competition is an educational program sponsored by the National Engineers Week Foundation.

The board accepted a $5,000 grant given to Wayne High School through the National Football League, made possible by funding from Wayne graduate and pro-football player Jason Baker. Wayne will use the money to help pay for renovations to its weight and locker rooms.

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Posted by photo212 grapher on 03/09/10 10:54:00 PM (Suggest removal)

How to Save

6.9% is not that much to save. Imagine your own personal income being reduced by 6.9% (lower profits/wages or higher taxes or inflation). What would you do? Most would eliminate non-essential items first.

Everything associated with teaching the 3R's is required. Everything not is fodder for the chopping block. These are called extra-curricular activities for a reason. They are fine when you can afford them, but when you cannot, cut them.

Sports is a nice-to-have, not a must-have. Coaches, equipments, field maintenance. Physical education is a must-have, so turn varsity sports into intramural. Have fun!

Marching bands is a nice-to-have. Mothball the uniforms for another day. Stop spending money transporting the band, and paying the band directors.

Once you eliminated many of these types of programs, you can then talk about other cuts.

Consider longer days with every other Friday off. Utility bills will be less, and kitchen staff pay is reduced 10%.

Or consider shorter days in the winter to reduce the hours of heating.

Pay your teachers to teach, not fill out forms.

Have several admin positions shared across schools. Most should not be fulltime positions, but make them that by half days in two or more schools.

Fire the lawyers. Let teachers teach as they know best. If someone files a lawsuit, make that parent attend class with their child until the dispute is settled.

Be bold in your thinking. Teach the basics, and spend the rest of the money wisely. Isn't that the reason we elected you to the school board - to think?!?!

Posted by patricia Laverghetta on 03/09/10 05:05:00 PM (Suggest removal)

outsourcing custodial employment

Perhaps someone could explain why it would be beneficial to outsource custodial work within the FWCS. They must get some sort of financial benefits that aren't understood by people outside the school system. This is just going to get really messy before it gets better, if it even gets better.