|
| | MOLALLA
RIVER EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
$1,139,910.00
Budget Reduction Proposal
April
16,2002
Members
of the school Board
Members
of the Budget Committee
Molalla
River School District
Molalla,
OR 97038
Re:
Molalla River Education Association (MREA) Budget Reduction Proposals
Dear
Members:
Like
educators around the state, Molalla River teachers are aware that the state is
once again in a crisis over funding for schools. As
employees of this District we
are aware of the shortfall in this years budget that adds to this crisis. We
understand that some budget reductions must be made.
To
assist you in this difficult reduction process, we have developed an alternative
list for your consideration. Some
of our suggestions you hove seen before; others will be new.
We have tried to be realistic as well as creative.
More
importantly, this list was developed using the following two guiding principles.
1.
Protect the core function of the district:
Instruction;
2.
Live within your means.
Principle
#1:
Every
institution has a core function For schools that basic function is instruction,
where teachers and students engage in learning and learning activities,
Everything else is supportive of that core function, When reductions become
necessary, cuts should be made in the support systems first, before the core
activity is impacted The positions where employees engage children on a daily
basis must be protected,
Principle
#2.
As
you know, a school district must operate with a balanced budget each year. This
means that difficult decisions must be mode on what the District can afford.
When sufficient funds are not available, some things must go. Tough questions
must be asked: Can we live without that service? Is that position really essential or con we perform that
function in a more economical way? Put
another way,
we
must live within our means.
If we can't afford a Cadillac, then we must accept a Volkswagen We have
used this concept in determining what programs and functions to reduce or
eliminate
Please
understand that these cuts are not personal. These reductions are not based upon
the individual(s) in the positions, their performance or their personalities.
In applying our guiding principles, we looked strictly at program and
function, not individuals.
Is
the Association happy about proposing these reductions? Certainly not!
It means less support for the teacher in the classroom; Teachers will be
working harder to reach the same goals. These
cuts mean administrators, confidential and classified employees will all be
working harder. But in tough
economic times, everyone in the district must be asked to do more.
MREA
would like to see all of these positions and programs continue.
Each contributes to the overall good of the District and the success of
children, Perhaps in future years, much of this can be restored. But for now, we
must protect our core function. Reductions must first be mode in support service
areas We should continue only those programs and functions we can afford.
Respectfully
submitted,
The
Molalla River Education Association
c:
MREA members
MREA
Administrators
Bruce
Smith OEA Uniserv Consultant
Molalla River Education
Association
Proposed
Budget Reductions
April
2002
Note.
All numbers are based upon reductions from the budgeted amounts for 2001-2002
Proposal
|
Change |
Elementary
schools; Do not
replace retiring
|
$100,000
|
Middle
school. Eliminate Vice
Principal position
|
85,000
|
High
school eliminate one
Vice Principal position
|
95,000
|
District
wide Eliminate COSA/OSBA
dues and tees
|
29,500
|
1111
- Elementary Programs
(no staff involved, cut costs)
|
Reduce
by.
35000
|
1250
- Special Education
(no staff involved, cut
|
Reduce
by
50,000
|
1460
- Summer School (make
program self-supporting through tuition)
|
Cut
and save
20,536
|
2132
- Physical Therapists
|
Reduce
by
11,250
|
2140
- Psychological Services
(consider hiring own staff)
|
Reduce by....................19,500
|
2190 - Direction of Student Support
Services (keep $15,000 for operations of Committee, assign duties to
Personnel Director)
|
Drop...........................107,227
|
2211 - Direction of Instruction
(keep $20,000 for operations of
committee, assign duties to Superintendent)
|
Drop...........................123,999
|
2213 - Curriculum Development
|
Reduce
by....................15,000
|
2240 - Instruction and Staff
Development:
Professional Services and In-Services
|
Reduce
by....................15,000
|
2310 - Board of Education Services
Legal Services:
Elections, Supplies, Professional
Services:
|
Reduce
by 1/3: Save.....30,000
Reduce
by....................10,000
|
2321 - Office of Superintendent
Performance Bonus;
Periodicals/supplies;
|
Drop............................10,000
Reduce
by.....................3,000
|
2322 - Office of Personnel Services
Clerical
assistance:
Workshops, Professional Improvement,
Periodicals:
|
Cut
and save.................28,536
Reduce
by....................10,000
|
2520 - Fiscal Services
One clerk position
|
Cut
and save.................30,000
|
2540 - Operations and Maintenance
(excludes any reductions in property
insurance)
|
Cut
10% and save..........54,700
|
2541 - Direction of Operations and
Maintenance (keep $20,000 for cost of working supervisor)
|
Drop...........................102,548 |
2626 - Grant Writing
|
Drop
and save...............24,112
|
2660 - Network and Technology
(do own data entry or re-evaluate
need)
Data
Processing
|
Reduce by 50% and save 30,000 |
5200 - Fund Transfer
(Let community fund raise for sports)
High School Athletic Fund Transfer
|
Reduce by...................100,000 |
TOTAL
|
$1,139,910
|
|
