By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
More than 100 community members attended Monday’s USD 489’s Board of Education work session as staff and school board members discussed possible cuts and fee increases to make up for a $1.3 million shortfall the district is facing for the 2014-15 school year.
“Obviously, there are a lot of people that care,” said school board President Greg Schwartz, thanking the crowd for attending.
“We are going to make a big decision for this district for years to come,” he said, asking everyone “take ownership” of the proposed changes.
Schwartz said he would like to go from “building to building” and determine the minimum level of “what we need by state statute and “and look at each item that may not be necessary at that particular school.”
“It is my understanding the superintendent and the administration team sat down with the principals and devised a plan — and this is that plan,” he said. “I want to make sure we are all taking ownership and we aren’t making decisions … without all the information.”
One of the concerns brought up by board member Josh Waddell were the “16 names he had in front of him” as possible staff cuts and asked if administration had looked at staff cuts at the central office. The district had notified the 16 staff members — the equivalent of 13 full-time positions — their contracts likely would not be renewed in the 2014-15 school year.
Superintendent Dean Katt said staff at central office were considered, as well.
Katt said the 16 staff received notices due to a deadline coming up in May, which requires administration to notify staff whose contracts may not be renewed for the 2014-15 school year.
“That is one reason, next week, we are looking at non-renewal notices … what positions come back depends on retirements and resignations, but that is one thing we are looking,” Katt said. “The other pieces, we still have some time.”
Those other pieces include a include $150 transportation fee for students who live within a 2.5-mile radius of the attending school and a $30 dollar increase to workbook and material fees, exempting families on the reduced or free lunch plan.
The proposed cuts and fee increases will be agenda items at the school board meeting at 6:30 p.m. April 21 at Rockwell Administration Building.
Kansas National Education Association representative Kathy Rome said she does not plan to speak at the meeting but encouraged parents whose children attend USD 489 to let the board know what they think about the proposed cuts and fee increases.
“There are crucial decisions that will be made Monday that will affect a lot of people,” she said.