It’s a subject school boards don’t like to talk about, but many are facing these days: a shrinking budget that simply doesn’t meet ever-growing expectations.

Friday, March 22, 2002

It’s a subject school boards don’t like to talk about, but many are facing these days: a shrinking budget that simply doesn’t meet ever-growing expectations.

The Ironton City School Board Thursday night approved five of six measures Superintendent Stephen Kingery suggested for short term cost cutting. They listened to yet more suggestions for long term cost cutting, including staff reductions, real estate sales, and a school closing.

Kingery told the board that a financial analysis conducted a month ago indicates the system may experience a budget shortfall next year, unless plans can be made now to trim expenses. He did not give a dollar figure on how large the shortfall could be.

The board approved:

– An immediate hiring freeze

– Discontinuation of field trips that must be paid for with system funds. This would not include trips funded by other means, such as fund raisers.

– Discontinuation of all facility rentals.

– Conservation of all utilities.

Kingery had also suggested the discontinuation of after school tutoring programs at Kingsbury, Whitwell, West Ironton and the Group and Shelter Home, and after school programs and summer programs for the rest of the school year unless state monies could be obtained to fund them. But that was one move the board was not yet willing to make.

Board member Kathy McGinnis said she could not support the elimination of tutoring programs until she knew what long term effect this would have on the students. Board member Teresa Parker agreed.

Board member Steven Harvey moved to approve the other suggestions.

"We’ve got to do something, people, " he said.

Kingery then read a list of changes that could save the system money on a long term basis, but emphasized to those attending that these are only suggestions, and nothing is final, as items must be debated and voted on by the board. On Kingery’s list of possible long term savings measures:

– Closing West Ironton Elementary.

– Eliminating eight K-8 staff positions, and 1or 2 junior high positions.

– Abolish some programs at Ironton High School.

– Reduce the high school staff by not renewing up to 9 classified contracts.

– Abolish one administrative position through attrition.

– Consider selling one of the system’s pieces of real estate, such as the central office.

Kingery told the approximately 25 people who attended this part of the meeting that it was not his desire or the board’s desire to cause anyone to lose their jobs, and he hopes to lose enough people through attrition to eliminate the need for layoffs. He advised the teachers that rumors about possible incentive buyouts are untrue.

"This isn’t final," Kingery insisted. "It’s a framework for developing a plan for the next school year."

Parker invited teachers and the public to give their input about what action the board should take.

Mary Ann Philabaun, president of the Ironton Teachers Association, attended the meeting but declined to comment about the long term suggestions until she had a chance to study them.