Art teachers, tech costs on carving block
RIDGEFIELD — Art teachers, technology purchases and a special bus run for kindergartners were among the proposed $230,000 in budget cuts targeted by the schools superintendent.
To meet the finance board’s
$98 million
2019-20 budget request, school board members discussed the recommendations — added some ideas — and agreed to decide next week.
“This was a collective effort,” Schools Superintendent William Collins said of the cut list. “This was about a search to keep this away from the classroom.”
PTA and teachers union speakers had urged keeping cuts as far away from the classroom as possible.
“Everything affects the classroom,” said board member Frances Walton. “When we get cut, it’s going to affect the classroom one way or the other.”
Collins’ proposed cuts include:
1 $109,000 by reducing art teachers as proposed by the administration, and reversed by the board after community objections;
1 $50,000 through “buyahead” initiatives — purchasing supplies needed next year from this year’s budget;
1 $36,000 from next year’s technology budget, through either using this year’s money, or “deferrals” — postponing purchases;
1 $13,510 saved by delaying the start date for the STEM supervisor a month, and
“When we get cut, it’s going to affect the classroom one way or the other.” Frances Walton, Board of education member
paying the $162,120 salary only 11 months;
1 $16,000 by reducing “per school’ discretionary spending — again, with some purchases made this year;
1 $5,490 by eliminating a midday bus run taking kindergartners home early the first two weeks of school, adopted years back as a transition to full-day kindergarten.
Aware reducing art teachers could be controversial, Collins offered an alternative.
“To substitute for that, the only
area we had is to take $109,000 from technology,” he said.
Assistant Superintendent Craig Creller said reducing art teachers’ hours — wouldn’t hurt students.
“We can provide more with less,” he said.
Some board members offered ideas.
Carina Borgia-Drake suggested
cutting outside consultants and having professional development — teacher training — workshops done by administrators on staff.
“The in-house humanities and STEM supervisors would take on some of the professional development,” Borgia-Drake said. “Our in-house people have large sixfigure salaries.”
Health insurance is the biggest chunk of a $19 million employee benefits line, and costs can sometimes be negotiated.
“It’s such a big number. It can have such an impact,” Walton said.
“Our experience is it tends to come down,” agreed Chairwoman Margaret Stamatis. “... But there is a risk.”