2009-2010 Budget Recommendation Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the School District cut the head football coach?: The District did not cut the head football coach position. The recommendation includes cutting two physical education teaching positions. All departments were considered and reductions were recommended in most areas. Without the physical education reductions, gym class sizes would be smaller than those in many core academic areas.

How did the District decide which physical education positions to recommend for elimination?: The District is bound by state law and negotiated union contracts to make reductions based on seniority. Staff, no matter how highly skilled, must be considered for layoff according to the limitations set forth in state law and negotiated contracts.

Why not make the head football coach the Activities Director (AD)?: Because the District cut two administrators this budget year and has recommended another for next year, the recommendation was made to find an Activities Director (AD) with a principal license in order to absorb some duties that require that license. The District has the opportunity to accomplish this for next year without additional cost. The current head football coach does not have a principal license.

Why not remove the principal license requirement from the AD position to accommodate the head football coach?: The AD position would be considered a promotion for a teacher even without the license requirement. The District would feel an obligation to accept applications for the position. In addition to the head football coach, there are highly qualified, long-term employees who may be interested in that promotion. In that scenario, the District would hire based on qualifications.

Is the recommendation to expand Spanish instruction to the elementary level at the expense of the high school German program?: No. The recommendation to phase out German at the high school was based on enrollment requests for the program. The number of requests for German are about 60 percent of the requests for French, and a third of those for Spanish. The elementary Spanish recommendation was accomplished through a shifting of specialist focus at the elementary level. Elementary students would be receiving the same amount of time with specialist teachers next year as they receive this year. The recommendation to add elementary Spanish and the recommendation to phase out high school German are not related.

Is the high school German teacher being laid off?: No. The German program has been recommended for phase out over the next three years. The high school German teacher would continue to teach German next year and perform other teaching duties in the District.

What about students currently enrolled in German?: High school students currently enrolled in German would be able to complete up to three more years of instruction if that is their choice.

Why doesn’t the District and the School Board listen to the people when cuts are made?: The School District and the School Board went through an exhaustive listening process and considered that input in developing its recommendation. Themes that emerged in that process included:

• A call for focus on academics by both staff and community members
• More remedial support for students
• Finding ways to keep and attract students should be explored
• There are varied opinions on District activities programs:
  • Concern that extracurriculars, though important, could detract from academics
  • Activities have been cut too much, students may leave the district if more program reductions are made
    

In the larger sense, the District’s Strategic Plan was used as a guide through the entire process. The Strategic Plan was developed last year with extensive community input and presented to the School Board. Responding to community concerns was also very important in last year’s round of budget adjustments. Based on last year’s listening sessions, significant changes were made to the 2008-2009 recommendation, including modifications to walking distances and larger activity fee increases than originally recommended.

Is the District cutting technology?: No. To the contrary, the budget recommendation includes a commitment to a pervasive integration of technology into the classroom. The recommendation is to transition elementary curriculum from teaching technology as a separate subject to “technology as a tool” to be used by students in all aspects of their learning experience.

How was the budget recommendation developed?: Work began on the 2009-2010 budget recommendation immediately following the projection given to the School Board last June. More recently, the leadership team met several times at length in February and March and analyzed every aspect of the District budget. Research was compiled, positions debated, and all suggestions supported with data. The Strategic Plan was used as a guide through the entire process. Also as a part of the process, achievement and enrollment data was reviewed carefully, as was sentiment from families who have left the District and input from initial listening sessions this spring.

Has the District considered other approaches to transportation and instruction?: Those themes are at the core of the budget recommendation. The recommendation recognizes how many students the District loses to elementary World Language offerings and technology based options. The recommendation recognizes a focus on academics and keeps activities reductions to a minimum. The recommendation generates more remedial help for students. The recommendation recognizes the need to attract new students with World Language and expanding alternative learning options. The recommendation also includes significant modifications to transportation to generate savings.

Why doesn’t the School Board cut employee wages and benefits?: Wages and benefits are set through a negotiation process. The School Board cannot change wages and benefits without the agreement of employee unions. Two contracts expire June 30, for teachers and custodians. Bargaining with these groups will begin later this spring or summer to establish agreements covering the next two years. All other employee contracts expire in 2010. Published figures regarding contract increases represent an agreement for a two-year period.

Do we really need to reduce next year’s budget as much as we have?: Absolutely. In fact, depending on how the state decides to address its own budget shortfalls, the District may need to cut more. The Senate is calling for an across the board reduction in K-12 spending that would force North Branch Area Schools to reduce its 2009-2010 budget by an additional $1 million. The District fashioned its recommendation for next year based on flat state funding and is still hopeful that will be the case. The House of Representatives has called for flat funding and the Governor has called for a slight increase. The Stimulus money may provide some relief, but based on early information the District expects the funds will be targeted to specific areas, such as special education, remedial programming, and construction projects.