Small Town News

Hearing set for Tuesday

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Impending budget cuts push district toward four-day schedule

The Willcox School Board held a work session last week on budget issues including legislative cuts, bond and override options, and student enrollment growth, as well as the possible effects of a four-day school week.

The final public hearing on the four-day school schedule will be Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the high school auditorium. The vote will likely be at the regular school board meeting on Dec. 1.

Three school board members attended the work session: President David Collins, Vice President Lucille Seney and Clerk Carl Hes-tand.

Members Jan Kortsen and Debbie Ellis were not able to attend, as both were at a state playoff volleyball game watching their daughters. Kortsen, who missed two prior meetings, did not receive previous telephone messages left by the Range News, but said she had told the superintendent that she could not attend the two Tuesday meetings due to prior commitments.

At the Nov. 3 work session, Superintendent Dr. Richard Rundhaug said he expected state budget cuts for the coming year to reduce the district's revenue by between five and 10 percent, which is estimated at $700,000 (10 percent) to $350,000 (5 percent).

He said the Average Daily Membership (ADM) for the Willcox district has increased by a significant number - nearly 100 students - this year, and is estimated at between $400,000 and $500,000 in additional revenue.

Rundhaug said he believes the district's carry-forward funds will not be as large in the coming year as they have been in recent years, due to hiring a band teacher and an automotive teacher this year with that leftover money.

A short discussion of the district's aging school facilities, which have not been updated since 1992, put up the question of a bond issue in the coming year, depending on the outcome of an assessment of facili ty needs.

Rundhaug said his own prior ities for the 2010-2011 school year include:

1. Countering whatever state budget cuts are made

2. Giving employees a raise, because "it's been a long dry spell - at least three years since they have had one."

3. Adding staff "where we've encountered burdens" following a year of not hiring positions that were vacated.

He built several scenarios using legislative cuts, revenue from higher ADM, and with or without an estimated $150,000 saved by operating on a four day week, which he acknowledged has not yet been approved by the board.

In the best-case scenario, the district would have $300,000 tc put toward raises or $150,000 to put toward raises without the four-day schedule. In the worst-case scenario, he said thi aggregate loss would be $300,000, but with a four-day school week, the loss would be $150,000.

"Considering the benefits, it would be prudent to think seriously about the four-day week," he said. "I have done everything I can to not do this (four-day schedule) for financial reasons; and if it were undoubtedly not good for the kids, we would find something else to do. But all the evidence we have says it will help the students academically."

However, Seney said, "I don't think it's best for the kids to go to four days. I don't see anything that enhances education. In my mind, it only benefits teachers."

Rundhaug said benefits include reduced absenteeism and an increase in average daily membership, decreased drop-out rate, a draw for recruiting and retaining teachers, and in three out of five articles summarized for previous meetings, there was noticeable academic achievement. In the other two, he said academic achievement did not decline.

Hestand said he had not heard any major negatives on the four-day week, and he had heard positives.

"I think the necessity (for financial reasons) is coming," Hestand said.

Rundhaug said, "We would like to say we would do this only for altruistic reasons, but we have heard from legislators that there is no way to avoid the cuts next year. There is also great value in how a four-day schedule would help us financially."

Ed Houser, superintendent of Bonita School, said he felt the four-day school year has helped reduce absenteeism and that Bonita has "done well in the four-day schedule, ADM and student enrollment are up and (hiring) substitute teachers is down."

He added that savings due to the four-day week are negligible, "as we made a point not to do this on the backs of the employees."

He also said they "make money from running the buses" as route miles are reimbursed by the state, although cutting routes on Fridays saves money by reducing hours for bus drivers, reduced fuel and wear and tear on buses.

A break-down of estimated savings is on the Willcox School District website, http://www.willcox.kl2.az.us, when you click on "Four-day School Week Information."

The document (Four-Day School Week Savings) breaks down savings in six areas: transportation, custodial, food service, utilities, substitute teachers and classroom aides. These are the estimated savings and their origination: l.Transportation: TotaL-$48,800 in savings a. salary and wages - reduction of driving time and hours by 20 percent-$21,309 b. fuel - average fuel cost of $3/gallon for average 161 miles/day: $16,905 c. bus maintenance - 10 percent of $48,363 (repairs and supplies in 2007-'08) - $4,836 d. bus replacement - savings over two years projected for 10 percent longer bus life - $5,750

2. Custodial - Total - $19,009 in savings a. salary and wages - 20 percent reduction in school days -$12,521; and janitorial supplies reduced by 20 percent - $6,488 b. maintenance - 20 percent decrease in facilities usage - difficult to define

3. Food Service - Total -$6,818 in savings a. salaries and wages - 20 percent decrease in days cafeteria would be open - $6,818 b. Sodexho - contract is dependent on number of meals served.

4. Utilities - Total - $25,811 in savings a. electricity - estimated of 10 percent-$15,346 b. gas, water, trash, sewerage - estimated of 10 percent -$10,465

5. Substitute teachers - 10 percent estimated savings, due to teachers have Fridays off for appointments - $9,654

6. Classroom aides - classroom aide hours reduced by three hours per week for 35 days for 34 employees at average hourly rate of $10.82, plus benefits - $45,456.

The total estimated savings above is $156,439.



Copyright 2009 Arizona Range News, Willcox, Arizona. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 Arizona Range News Willcox, Arizona. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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