The school board unanimously passed the first reading of what the district plans to get and spend during the next fiscal year beginning in July.
The proposed budget is $3.2 million slimmer than last year’s financial plan at just under $42 million.
Though one state and one local revenue source add $487,606 more than last year, the district still has to slash spending to cover $3.4 million in state funding cuts.
The district plans to save thousands with 41 fewer district positions.
Of the 41 positions, 13 were “reduction in staff” or layoffs.
The reduced
Within the 13 layoffs, seven workers were retirees who went back to work. Seven among the 13 were also non-certified employees.
Also, four “certified instructional support” workers who served students outside of core-instructional areas were laid off.
The four cut positions were a guidance counselor at Reuben Elementary, a literacy coach at Reuben, an JROTC position at Newberry High and a agricultural-science position that both Newberry High and Mid-Carolina High shared.
Each district school will still have a guidance counselor, said Human Resources Director Pam Arrington.
An administrator who had guidance counselor certification replaced the guidance counselor who was cut from Reuben, said Arrington.
Seniority did play a role in selecting who was cut, says Arrington.
The cut literacy coach at Reuben was replaced by a literacy coach who will now serve both Reuben and Whitmire Community School.
The literacy coach will serve the two schools because of Reuben’s enrollment total and because the elementary, middle and high school sections of Whitmire’s school only had one literacy coach, said Arrington.
The JROTC position was cut at Newberry High because instead of three JROTC instructors, two could cover the school’s enrollment, said Arrington.
The agricultural-science position was not replaced.
Savings from the 13 “reduction in staff” cuts or layoffs
• The four cut “certified instructional support” workers, including literacy coaches and school counselors, along with 3.5 unfilled vacancies the district plans to keep open will save $370,126 in spending.
• Two administrative workers were laid off, which with other unfilled openings saves $485,562 in spending.
• Seven classified or hourly paid workers like teacher’s aids were laid off, saving the district $374,055.
Uncut
Of the district’s 41 less positions, the other 28 positions were eliminated through “attrition” or kept open as teachers quit, retired or transferred.
Of the 28, 15 were classroom teacher positions. These cuts slightly increased class sizes, but not by much, said Chief Financial Officer Susan Dowd.
Other budget savings Furloughs
• Two non-instructional day furloughs for teachers will save the district approximately $168,000.
• A five-day administrator furlough saves approximately $70,877.
• A five-day furlough for instructional positions over 190 days saves approximately $21,000.
• A five-day furlough for classified positions over 180 days saves approximately $61,413.
Money cuts
• 10 percent salary cut for retired teachers who are back at work getting paid a salary and pension saves approximately $147,851.
• 15 percent salary cut for active administrative retirees saves approximately $91,693.
• Elimination of the district’s National Board Certification $2,500 supplement saves approximately $190,243.
• Cutting Newberry High and Mid-Carolina Middle’s in-house custodial service for a district-wide contracted services saves $172,000.
The district will still have during-the-day janitorial care at each district school, says Arrington.
Next
The district plans a public hearing on the budget at the Learning Center June 8 at 7 p.m.
The monthly board meeting at the Learning Center is June 22 at 7:30 p.m. for the next and final budget reading.
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