Bloomer School Budget Plan Spares Teachers Cuts Aides (WA)

April 22, 2010

A plan created by Bloomer School District administrators to cut $129,000 from the budget saves teachers’ jobs, though a couple of aides will be laid off if it passes.

The school board will meet tonight to discuss and possibly vote on the plan. Any decision has to be made before the May 15 layoff notification deadline.

Administrators used a combination of cuts to get to their current plan. As with pr evious budget deficits, teachers were asked about their priorities, and core academics and graduation requirements were considered.

What the group came up with is a proposal that cuts 12.5 percent of total personnel costs, eliminates elementary keyboard classes, includes a wrestling co-op and shifts special education funding.

“We feel very fortunate that we were able to make these changes,” Superintendent Mary Randall said.

With retirements, administrators were able to save all teachers’ jobs, though a couple of aides will be laid off if the plan passes.

“What we were able to do is use our retirements and rearrange our staff,” Randall said.

A few board members have expressed concerns with the continual cutting and no addition of programs, but the state has decreased funding, and Randall said administrators had to be cognizant of priorities.

“We feel the recommendation we’ve given them maintains the core academics as well as gives students opportunities in the arts,” she said.

In addition to the staffing plan, the board will also be considering a busing contract with Blackhawk Transportation Inc. and will look at a make-up day.

Blackhawk Transportation is the district’s current busing company, but with the contract up at the end of this school year, the board send out a request for bids. Blackhawk was the only company to respond, and Randall said its prices are comparable to those received by other Heart O’North conference schools.

The make-up day being considered would be tacked on to the end of the school year. Classes were canceled on April 12 because of a citywide power outage, and that day has to be made up, Randall said.