Tuesday was grim across the Columbus Municipal School District, with approximately 59 teachers and support staff learning their contracts will not be renewed.
Only a few members of the public were present for an afternoon press conference at Brandon Central Services, where Interim Superintendent Dr. Martha Liddell made the announcement.
Personnel cuts and other reductions will save the district $3.4 million, with approximately $2.1 million in savings coming from eliminating 54 teachers, Deputy Superintendent Craig Shannon said after the meeting. Three counselors, a coach and an administrator were also terminated.
An additional $250,000 was saved by across-the-board administrative cuts — reducing salaries, eliminating supplemental pay, combining positions, reducing employee workdays, shifting positions from the district payroll to federal payroll and by attrition due to retirements.
The remainder of the cost-savings were gained by reducing the number of coaches and eliminating supplemental pay and stipends for athletics.
School Board President Dr. Glenn Lautzenhiser said though the process was difficult, it was also fair. The 59 certified staff members who were terminated have less than two years of service to the district, and they were informed as soon as possible so they would have time to seek employment elsewhere, he said.
Approximately 76 percent of the district’s budget is made up of personnel costs. With another year of expenses outpacing revenues anticipated, the financially strapped district had no choice, Liddell said.
Tuesday’s cuts will reduce the district’s certified staff from 390 to 331. Certified staff members include teachers, counselors, administrators, coaches and librarians. The district now has 547 certified and noncertified staff members on the roster for the 2012-2013 school year.
There is a chance 21 positions may be restored this summer, primarily in secondary and special education.
“It’s a sad day when you have to look in the eyes of our next generation of teachers and inform them their job is being cut,” Liddell said. “Unfortunately, it could not be averted, and the district will be able to regain a stronger financial standing in time.”
Edward Yeates, head of Father’s Child Ministry, said he attended the press conference because he’s concerned about education in the city and he has two children who attend Stokes-Beard Elementary Technology and Communication Magnet School.
In the Father’s Child mentoring program, he works with young people every day, and he sees the effects good teachers and parents have on a child. Over the summer, Yeates held a camp for boys whose fathers are gone or mostly-absent from their lives. In a few weeks, he will begin mentoring young men who have spent time in the juvenile justice system.
Increased class sizes will limit the one-on-one time instructors can spend with students, which is a concern, he said.
But he also understands the district’s pecuniary responsibilities.
“The truth of the matter is, budgets have to be met,” Yeates said, as he dangled an arm around his 4-year-old daughter. “I hate that it comes at the expense of personnel, but if expenses are more than revenue, you go in debt. I feel for our children and the teachers, because of the extra load that’s going to trickle down to (them).”
This year’s budget was the subject of heated controversy last summer as board members struggled to provide a final draft for the Columbus City Council by the August deadline.
The apex of the issue came last July when council members — frustrated by what they said was a lack of communication and fueled by rumors of a hefty tax increase for city residents — called for the resignation of the board. The motion was defeated with a 3-2 vote.
The board passed a $43.5 million budget for 2010-2011, requesting $13.39 million from the council, which resulted in a 2.9-mill tax increase for city residents. But even that was not enough to keep the district’s fund balance from dropping. The district has declared a shortfall for nine of the past 10 years.
City school leaders are optimistic that Tuesday’s decision, along with strategic line-item cuts, will restore the district’s financial health.
“Our heart goes out to all our teachers and their families and other certified staff members who will be affected by staff reductions,” Liddell said Tuesday night. “Unfortunately, these are difficult days, but we will get through them with courage and compassion.”
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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