By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
Like most public schools in Hays, administrators at Hays Middle School are preparing for next year with an eye on proposed staff cuts agreed upon Monday by the USD 489 school board.
At Hays Middle School, two language arts/reading teachers, one math teacher and one music teacher were cut for the 2014-15 school year.
HMS principal Craig Pallister said the administration is working on “shifting people around” and said classroom size most certainly will increase, but to what extent is not yet known.
According to Pallister, the average class size currently is 23 students per classroom.
Pallister admitted the cuts are not easy.
“Every principal thinks (the staff cuts) are not good for staff … for students,” he said, “and I wish there was another way, but it is just something we are going to have to deal with.”
Pallister said Hays Middle School will not cut any programs other than a Spanish language class, which was a pilot project using the software program Rosetta Stone.
The district as a whole is expected to lose 16 positions after the resolution passed Monday — cuts board members agreed to in order to make a dent in the $1.3 million budget deficit the district is facing for the 2014-15 school year. The staff cuts are expected to trim approximately $975,000 from projected expenses.
Board President Greg Schwartz said Monday the cuts are not set in stone. Should other cuts or new revenue be found in the form of transportation changes or other ideas, some positions could be refilled. The board is considering decreasing the number of bus routes or imposing a $150 fee for students who ride the bus, but who live within 2.5 miles of the school they attend.
Schwartz said the staff cuts were passed now in order to meet a state deadline requiring teachers not coming back the next school year be notified by May 16.
The following is a list of cuts to other schools in Hays:
Hays High School: Two foreign language
Wilson Elementary School: Fifth grade, third grade
O’Loughlin Elementary School: Music, art, fourth grade, fifth grade
Lincoln Elementary School: Third grade, second grade
Washington Elementary School: Fourth grade, first grade
For a complete list of personnel transactions, click HERE.