PSD budget cuts result in staff losses at schools

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

Because of budget cuts from the state, Poudre School District schools are tightening their belts. The schools recently submitted their budget plans for the 2010-11 school year, and all will lose staff positions.

PSD is requiring all schools to reduce next year's budgets by 4.5 percent, in light of Colorado's fiscal crisis. State funding to the district will be down about 6.3 percent next year, according to PSD budget manager Dave Montoya, and that translates to a shortfall of at least $8 million. He pointed out that the district is dealing with a double dilemma: Revenues are down, but some district costs – notably retirement plans and health care – increase every year.

At some schools, changes in enrollment affect the budget and the number of staff positions lost.

The 4.5 percent budget cut isn't the only financial concern for local schools. They are also dealing with cuts to special education and a technology fund that is fast being depleted. In addition, both Cache La Poudre and Eyestone elementary schools are losing Title I funding next year.

Special education funding, Montoya explained, comes from an "integrated services" budget managed centrally by the district. This budget is being reduced by 3.75 percent next year, but each school will be impacted differently depending on the number of students served by the program.

In the technology arena, funds from the 2000 bond issue, designated for technology upgrades, are almost depleted. Some principals are concerned about how their schools will keep current in the years ahead.

"In order to maintain our focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), we need the technology piece," said Wellington Middle School Principal Alicia Duran.

Eyestone Principal David Sobson concurred. If voters do not approve a mill levy or bond issue this fall, he said, technology in the schools will take "a huge hit."

Principal Guillermo Medina of Irish Elementary likened computers to "the pencils of the 20th century" and said it is imperative to prepare students in the use of technology.

According to Montoya, the school board will decide this summer whether to place a mill levy increase or bond issue on the ballot this November.

Will student instruction suffer from the budget cutbacks? As Duran said, "We are confident that students and parents will get a similar level of service, but with fewer people working at WMS, some things are bound to change."

Montoya agreed that, even though every effort is made to keep impacts away from the classroom, instruction will inevitably be impacted. "When we're facing reductions of this magnitude, every facet of the school system is affected," he said.

Individual cuts cited

Creating a school budget is not a simple process, Montoya noted. To come up with the dollar amount of cuts, each school's current budget was adjusted to account for next year's expected enrollment. The adjusted budget was then reduced by 4.5 percent.

The following is a list of schools in the North Forty News readership area, with their budget reductions and tentative staff losses for next year. The school principals, Montoya and Integrated Services Director Laura Richardson provided the information.

CLP Elementary: The budget reduction is $50,000. The school will lose two certified teacher positions and 1.5 paraprofessional positions. Class size will increase in first grade, from about 16 to about 20 students, because that grade will be reduced from three tracks to two. In special education, the school is losing one full-time teacher and a half-time paraprofessional.

Eyestone Elementary: With a budget reduction of $85,000, the school will lose one certified teacher and one paraprofessional as well as a half-time certified special education teacher. In addition, the school will spend less on supplies, copying and staff development. With the cuts, said Sobson, "we're trimming the services you can provide to kids, especially those who need extra help." He does not anticipate larger class sizes next year, however.

Irish Elementary: The school's budget will be reduced by $66,700. The school will use some of its reserve funds, so it will not lose any certified staff next year. However, one regular paraprofessional and one special ed paraprofessional position will be lost. Class sizes will be larger, according to Medina, and that's a concern for him. He is also worried about having fewer funds for staff development.

Mountain schools: The budget will be down $33,700. The three mountain schools together will lose 0.8 certified teacher position, but no paraprofessional positions. Hours for specials will be cut back, and one teacher will teach both art and physical education. The schools are also losing one full-time special education teacher, meaning that only one special ed teacher will serve all three mountain schools next year.

Rice Elementary: The budget will be reduced by $62,500 next year. In terms of staff, the school will lose one certified special education teacher and one half-time regular paraprofessional. Fourth-grade classes will be large because there will be only two sections. There will be no money to stay updated with technology, Principal Karen Koehn said, and less money for classroom budgets. "That translates to fewer classroom books and materials," she added, and students will likely be asked to provide more of their own supplies.

Tavelli Elementary: The school's budget will be reduced by $94,900. The literacy teacher position will be reduced and rolled into the Title I program. The gifted/talented teacher will go from 50 percent to 40 percent, and the school will lose 18.5 hours weekly of paraprofessional help. In addition, the supplies budget will be cut by 4.5 percent. There will be no change in special ed staffing.

CLP Middle School: The school's budget will be down by $96,500. That translates to 1.75 certified teacher positions and one paraprofessional position. The seventh grade will see a slight increase in class size, and advanced placement staffing will be reduced from 67 percent to 50 percent. Special ed staffing will not change.

Lincoln Middle School: The budget will be reduced by $98,000. However, since student numbers are projected to increase by 15 percent, the school will not need to cut certified teacher positions for regular classrooms. One paraprofessional position will be lost, and some paras will have fewer hours. One certified position in special ed will be lost. Lincoln will buy fewer materials, but it is using reserve funds to maintain its library and technology budgets.

Wellington Middle School: The school revenues will be reduced by $94,600. The equivalent of one full-time certified teacher position will be lost, as well as an eight-hour para position and cutbacks in other para positions. A half-time certified position in special ed will be lost. Class sizes will increase in core areas as well as electives, and the school will no longer offer classes when fewer than 15 students are enrolled.

Poudre High School: The budget will be reduced by $320,000. There will be no change in special education staffing.