Geneva trims teachers, support staff
By BRENDA SCHORY – bschory@kcchronicle.com
GENEVA - In another cost-cutting measure, school officials Monday approved a reduction of 3.6 full time equivalent teachers, a savings of $198,000.
The board also approved eliminating part-time office assistants at each of the district's six elementary schools, a savings of $52,600. The office assistants were notified of their discharge in April. The board also decreased long-term substitute teacher pay to $175 a day from $215, a savings of $70,000. A contingency fund for new staff was reduced by $50,000, from $200,000 to $150,000.
The board also reduced the hours to six from 18 of a nurse who coordinates vision and hearing screenings, a savings of an additional $8,600. The nurse resigned.
The savings was somewhat offset by increasing special education assistants, a 1.5 full-time equivalent, at a cost of $19,000 at the elementary schools. The addition was necessary because of an increase in special education students, officials said.
Combined with the reduction in five full time bus drivers, a $53,200 savings, the board trimmed the 2009-10 budget by $423,800.
School board president Mary Stith said part of the savings will come from efficiencies and attrition.
"They did identify efficiencies, part of it is through attrition - we need less staff in our buildings," Stith said. "We're not expanding our programs, we've made cuts by changing our transportation, elimination of five bus drivers. Savings or cost reduction - any way you want to look at it, it's $400,000-plus dollars that's off the budget."
The board voted 5-0 in favor with members Kelly Nowak and Matt Henry absent.
At the elementary level, two positions will be decreased though teacher retirement.
At the middle school level, full-time equivalent of one teacher will come from eliminating one section in art, family and consumer science, French, German, Spanish and science. Because of an increase in special education students, special education will add a .2 full time equivalent teacher, officials said.
At the high school, a .6 full-time equivalent teacher will be reduced in business education, industrial technology, math and French. There will be an increase of .1 full-time equivalent for physical education and .4 full-time equivalent for Spanish.
The district expects to maintain its current staffing levels among custodians, maintenance, grounds and security employees, officials said.
