Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
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Saturday, October 21, 2006
Deep cuts proposed for Dayton schools
In a meeting this morning, Superintendent Percy Mack’s staff proposed deep cuts for the school district to try to head of a deficit next year. What may catch some off guard is that the board will consider $8 million in cuts starting January, and some of them — including teacher layoffs and eliminating some sports teams — would be painful. The board votes on these proposed cuts Tuesday.
Here’s a brief summary of what’s proposed. Look for more in Sunday’s Dayton Daily News.
Proposed cuts starting in January
As a pre-emptive move, the board Tuesday will consider $8.3 million in immediate cuts. Among them, the board would:
—Cut 135 jobs including 58 teachers
—Reduce the number of high school electives
—Eliminate foreign language in grades 6 to 8
—Reduce hours or eliminate 28 adjunct faculty at Stivers and Colonel White high schools
—Close Patterson Co-op High School’s automotive program
—Layoff 19 school bus aides for special education buses
—Eliminate high school golf, tennis, cross country, soccer and swimming
—Cut all middle school sports except football, basketball and volleyball
—Reduce groundskeeping, maintenance, food and custodial services
Proposed cuts starting July 1
The board said Saturday it intends to seek a 9.75 mill levy in May. If the levy does not pass, $18 million cuts will be instituted on July 1. Among them, the board would:
—Eliminate 198 positions, including 141 teachers
—Close two elementary and one middle school
—Strip Montessori programs from Jefferson and Horace Mann schools
—Eliminate all summer school not required by No Child Left Behind
—Cut high school electives by another 25 percent
—Cut adjunct faculty at Colonel White and Stivers by another 25 percent
—Eliminate either vocal or instrumental music at elementary schools
—Lay off all high school nurses
—Cut all elementary school assistant principals
—Cut one assistant principal at each high school
—Deeper cuts in maintenance, groundskeeping, food and custodial services
Even after all these cuts, school leaders say they still need to find another $12 million in cuts to balance 2007-08 budget.
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