The Valparaiso School Board held its annual meeting on February 21, 2012, to share with the public its plan to handle the budget deficit of over $3.2M. Superintendent Andrew Melin presented a PowerPoint presentation detailing the proposed budget cuts.
Melin stated, “This is a most difficult time for our school corporation. The reduction plan that was in place failed to produce as planned and now we have to make more reductions. I am confident in the parents, students and staff that we can overcome adversity. We need to remember that everything we do is for the students.”
This statement caused a reaction of jeering from the parents, students and staff in attendance. There are significant reductions set forth that will impact the 2012 school year, with proposed reductions taking place as early as May 1, 2012.
Melin stated the core values in proceeding forward include minimizing the impact on the classroom, maintaining quality programs, continuing to focus on excellence, understanding the need to do things differently as a result of the financial reality, and taking a fair approach to possible expenditure reductions.
Projected cuts include:
- Building secretaries -1
- Custodians -1
- Social workers -1
- Instructional aides -68
- Central Office Support -1
- Administrators -3
- Extra-Curricular -67
- Teaching positions -21
Non-personnel cuts include:
- General Fund to Capital Projects Fund - $200,000
- Utilities - $50,000
- Overtime - $30,000
- Instructional/Custodial Supplies - $72,000
- Media Material - $6,000
These projected cuts are expected to total $3,554,634
Melin said, “It can’t be a straight across the board 8% reduction because some areas are overstaffed and some are understaffed, so each area has to be reviewed.”
Everything is being looked at from attrition, to fees for athletics, and volunteers for extra-curricular activities. Melin stated, “It is our expectation that not a single program is lost. Our hope is that someone would be willing to volunteer to keep a program going.”
Chief Financial Officer for Valparaiso Community Schools Lynn Kwilasz said, “We over spent in 2011 and it is going to be a tight year. Our plan is to under spend our budget so we can stay out of the negative.”
To review the budget visit http://www.valpo.k12.in.us/Page/1