Budget woes force school cuts

Samantha Newburn

EFFINGHAM — The state’s financial woes have trickled downhill and area schools are paying the price.

Effingham Unit 40 isn’t an exception to the number of schools feeling the state’s financial pinch. During a special meeting Monday, school officials and board of education members discussed possible cuts that will help the school district weather the fiscal storm.

This is the second round of possible cuts for the school district. Unit 40 trimmed about $900,000 from its budget last year, but the state’s financial situation has continued to disintegrate, resulting in late or nonexistent payments to local school districts.

According to Unit 40 Superintendent Dan Clasby, the state currently owes the district about $900,000 and there’s no certainty all or even any of the money will come through. Because of this, school officials are back to looking at what can be trimmed that would cause the least harm to the local education system.

Clasby estimated over $900,000 worth of programs or activities may be cut to try and keep the General Education fund afloat.

One option discussed was cutting the district’s preschool program back to serving only at-risk students. The full-day program was cut to a half-day program last year when promised grants dried up.

Also, the school district is looking at combining classes and not hiring teachers for open positions.

Special Programs Director Jennifer Fruchtl said the district is in a situation where the numbers are dictating how students receive their education. And that may mean one less special education teacher at South Side School.

According to South Side Principal Amy Niebrugge, two special education classes could be combined next year, which would reduce the number of special education teachers by one.

At the high school, Principal Mike McCollum said there are two teaching positions that may not be filled in August. According to McCollum, teachers could be shuffled to cover those open positions.

However, McCollum cautioned the board the class of 2012 will be required by the state to have four years of English to graduate. Students are currently required to have three and a half years. If English teachers are shuffled around, it may be more difficult to have enough teachers to cover the required extra semester.

Currently, there are about 100 to 115 students who take an additional semester of English, even though it is not required, but 100 more students will be added to that number in 2012 because of the new requirement and that may make it necessary to hire another English teacher in a couple of years.

McCollum later said 23 credits are required by the board of education to graduate, and an extra semester of English may prevent an average of five to seven students per class from graduating on time. He said elective classes often give students extra motivation to do well academically, and with an extra English class, those students may get frustrated more easily because of the added class load.

While looking at ways to trim expenses, Clasby and school administrators also are trying to make decisions that will not increase class sizes.

One possible option is to eliminate the district’s after-school programs, which cost the district about $40,000 a year. Although the programs are helpful for students who need the extra assistance, they also require extra transportation and add teachers’ salaries.

Central School Principal Dean Manuel and Niebrugge said they preferred to eliminate the after-school programs instead of increasing class sizes. If the after-school programs are not cut, that could result in combining elementary school classes, which would severely cut into any one-on-one time between the teacher and students.

“It’s beneficial, but if we had to choose, we want our students in smaller classes five days a week than in a class after school two days a week,” Niebrugge said.

The after-school program operates twice a week, beginning in early November and running through the end of the school year.

Although the numbers fluctuate slightly throughout the year, the after-school program serves 21 students at South Side, 80 students at Central and 31 students at Edgewood.

Cuts also may be possible in the area of extracurricular activities, including sports.

According to Student Activities Director David Woltman, Unit 40 is required as part of the Apollo Conference to compete at the high school level in football, boys and girls basketball, softball and baseball.

Because of those requirements, being a part of a conference is an additional expense, said Woltman, adding that Jasper County School District has been considering joining another conference because of the additional costs.

The district could eliminate one boys and one girls sports with few participants, such as golf or cross-country, and that would save the district about $4,000, Woltman said.

Woltman added the football program costs about $50,000 a year.

If some sports are eliminated, the district must stay in compliance with Title IX laws, which require districts to offer an equal number of boys and girls sports. If the district decides to eliminate sports that are not part of the Apollo Conference, Woltman suggested keeping volleyball to keep the extra girls sport, since it usually has the most players.

Increasing entrance fees at games may be another way to offset the expense of sports, Woltman said. A check with surrounding schools, including Teutopolis,St. Anthony and Altamont, indicated officials there are considering increasing ticket prices to help pay for sports.

Woltman suggested increasing gate fees at sporting events, especially football. The last time prices were increased was in 1991. Clasby also suggested free passes to students who have perfect attendance or who have earned passes because of good grades could be eliminated. In addition, the practice of purchasing new uniforms on a rotating basis could be eliminated to an as-needed basis.

Another option is assessing an activity fee to those who want to participate in a sport. According to Woltman, Mount Zion has a $60 sports activity fee.

Board members questioned how student’s grades would be affected if some sports or activities were eliminated. Woltman said there is an obvious correlation between grades and those who participate in sports.

McCollum agreed, stating less than 2 percent of disciplined students are involved in school activities.

Board member Dave Worman voiced his support for school sports and activities, saying it was a way to connect to his children. By attending sports or activity events, he says he connects to his children, their friends and other parents in the community.

Technology Coordinator Rem Woodruff reminded the board the cost cuts are difficult decisions, and they shouldn’t be taken personally.

He said no one wants to make cuts or eliminate programs, whether academics or sports, but the fiscal situation is going to require some difficult decisions.

“It’s not fair, but that’s where we are,” Woodruff said. “We, as a unit, did not put ourselves in this position — our government put us here.”

The board took no action during the special meeting regarding possible cuts. Clasby said the earliest the board may make final decisions on cuts will be at the next board meeting, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m.

Samantha Newburn may be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or samantha.newburn@effinghamdailynews.com.

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