04/24/2009: "SJSCD Cuts 6 Teaching Positions"

The San Juan Island School Board has decided to eliminate six teaching positions as a part of a plan to deal with an expected shortfall of one million dollars. The action is based on assumption the State education budget cuts will necessitate the local cuts.

The action was taken this week to meet a May 1st deadline contained in State law -and Teacher’s Association contracts- that require Districts to provide anticipated “Reduction in Force” (RIF) notices to affected employees by the May 1st.

Superintendent Michael Soltman reported that, “Approximately half of the six position reductions can be realized through leaves and retirements, hence the actually RIF resolution is for slightly more than three teaching positions.”

Previously, at the March 4th school board meeting when the projected deficit was $782,000, the Board had decided to retain the grade 6-8 middle school program for the 2009-10 school year. However, the Board also directed the administration to plan for the 6th grade restructuring option in order to be prepared to respond to more severe reductions in the State education budget.

At last night’s meeting Soltman indicated that the $1,000,000 budget reduction would trigger the necessity to restructure the school programs by returning the 6th grade program to the elementary school, and by returning to a six period, two semester schedule at the high school without a winter term. Board members affirmed that the restructuring plan appeared to be necessary due to current budget projections.

School administrators are now creating the grade 7-8 and 9-12 program schedules with reduced staffing and will report to the board in subsequent meetings the program implications of such reductions. Planning for the 6th grade program at the elementary school will continue to address curriculum and program components. A fifth grade parent meeting will be scheduled for Thursday, May 7th, to discuss the 6th grade program planning as well as to hear ideas, concerns, and questions from parents.

The District’s Financial Task Force has been analyzing budget and enrollment information since August 2008, and has targeted necessary budget reductions in the $750,000 - $1,100,000 range during the next two fiscal years. Various scenarios to reduce administration, non-instructional services, and instructional programs, as well as to restructure the middle/high school programs have been presented to and discussed by the school board since November.