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GoogleThe 10 packages costing $350,596 board members voted to keep above the 2009-10 cut line include, in order: An elementary classroom teacher, a combined math and alternative school instructor position, a vocational agriculture instructor and FFA sponsor position, the debate program, the mock trial and boys swimming programs, a high school social studies instructor, two middle school basketball coaches' salaries, a combination middle school music and elementary band teacher position, and a $103,593 package tied to full-time benefits for 15 teacher and library associates.
The new items placed below the potential reduction line included a $25,070 package that would limit Assistant Superintendent Kathy Elliott's role to serving as the district's curriculum director, the full-time maintenance position, and a $97,150 package that would relegate the duties performed by Activities Director Roger Johnson to Spencer High School Assistant Principal Jade Beehler, other district administrators and community residents.
As the cuts are currently proposed, Spencer's administration will take a large hit next year. Superintendent Greg Ebeling and Elliott have agreed to take a pay freeze in 2009-10. The district's other administrators have agreed to take a 1.5 percent increase, which would include a 1 percent raise and the cost of insurance. An accounting administrative assistant position based at central office would be reduced, with her duties eventually being farmed out to others. In addition, a K-12 literacy specialist's position would be cut, as approved last night.
As Ebeling offered a 2007-08 snapshot of Iowa teacher and administrator numbers per district, the most recent data available statewide, he revealed that Spencer is already very efficient in its numbers -- with 13.3 students per teacher and 270.6 students per the district's seven administrators. Waverly-Shell Rock, which calculated 1,894 students, the same number as Spencer had enrolled in 2007-08, compared with 15.2 students per teacher and 252.6 students per that district's 7 1/2 administrators.
Board member Barb Van Wyk lobbied for the district's administrators. While she indicated many people can fill the position of a teacher associate in Spencer, Van Wyk said administrators are highly trained specialists in a shallow pool.
"In fact, there is a shortage of administrators in Iowa. The best ones are very choosy and serve districts who value leadership and express that value in tangible ways: Salary and benefits. Right now, we are able to offer our students, our kids, the best that available money can buy because our current administrative team is the best of the best. That's not just my opinion, it's been confirmed and applauded statewide," Van Wyk said.
"Unfortunately," she continued, "every time the community cries out for less and less for our administrators, they get a little closer to the door. Someone suggested if an administrator would choose to leave a district because of lower salary and/or benefits they should 'not let the door hit them' on the way out. Sadly, some applauded. No need to worry about that. I don't think there will be time for the door to hit them because the windows of opportunity before administrators of the caliber who serve us currently are wide open and many. I know for a fact the phones are ringing right now, and the recruiters are hard at work for other districts. They are looking for the best. ... It's up to the board to determine if we have world class leadership or not. It's up to us to set the standard."
Elliott, who has served the Spencer school district for 13 years, is in the midst of a two-year signed contract. She may choose to ride out next school year at her current salary, but she would then look to receive a $25,070 cut in pay as the assistant superintendent duties would be taken from her, as approved last night, and she would remain the district's curriculum coordinator in 2010-11.
When the board voted 3-2 to cut Johnson's full-time activities director position, relegating his duties to Beehler and other administrators, Ebeling was told to return to the board with a recommendation on how to fill the gaps that would be left with this reduction.
Following last night's meeting, Ebeling deemed the board's revised reductions a "very severe administrative cut."
"You're obviously taking out two very quality people out of our administrative team over the next years," he said of Elliott and Johnson. "That quality is not easily replaced with some other kind of system. Granted, it can be done, but the quality you just don't get back.
" ... It really takes us back to a package that we wrote five years ago about what we would consider as absolutely core administration to make this district work. And with these two packages gone, we are down to core administration for what I would consider the bare bones of what we can use to make this district work. They're not going to see additional administrative packages (listed for potential reductions) in the future. There won't be because we are at bare bones. We would have to drop drastically in enrollment, 400-500 kids, before we're going to reconsider administrative cuts."
Ebeling also warned board members to anticipate a "hiccup" in curriculum revision and how the district handles its support activities with these two proposed cuts. As they would relate to Johnson's role specifically, the superintendent said, "His responsibilities would be farmed out to the assistant principal position and between all the district administrators, as well as hiring some other supports in to deal with some of the activity event coverage that we would need. So, there are some additional costs associated with reducing Roger's position."
* The board is scheduled to take action on 2009-10 reductions at 5:30 p.m. Thursday night.
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Bravo on the pay freeze and thumbs down to any pay increase no matter how small it may seem. And although I voted for Mrs. VanWyk I am sadly disappointed in her stance here. The ENTIRE administration needs to show good faith toward the teachers and take a pay & insurance cut. If Mr. Ebelings job is to make the budget work than why is it still a mess?
I still believe that much of the blame of this situation with declining enrollment should be put on the shoulders of those who opposed economic development including the casino. Mrs. VanWyk was part of that contingent and when she is in Africa the rest of us will still be dealing with those repercussions.
I must respectfully disagree with Barb Van Wyk's comment in regards to her attitude towards teacher associates. Maybe I'm taking it out of context, but it comes off as very condescending. Maybe there is a larger pool of people who can fill the position of teacher aide. But to do it effectively takes a special kind of person that is also in short supply. In my son's class last year, they were short an aide for the entire first half of the year. If it's so easy to fill the position, why did it take so long?
I'm sorry to hear that anyone at all has to lose his or her job, administration or otherwise. Everyone's job is important, and it's disappointing to add any more job losses to this town.
The point I've been trying to make the last few days is that we, the community as well as the school board, should be more proactive earlier in the process. We know that we're going to have budget troubles again next year, so why don't we start to address them RIGHT NOW rather than wait until next winter? If given more time, maybe we could figure out ways to raise more money for the school system, and more importantly, come up with solutions to the declining enrollment.
I agree with Leah that opposing economic development in this city is a very big factor in why there is a continued decline in enrollment. Spencer needs to stop being so fearful of what may happen if certain new businesses come to town, and realize that the world is changing. We need to adapt with it. Otherwise, the long-term repercussions of what will happen to this town are far scarier than what will happen if a casino, geriatric prison, etc. come to town.
How does the district continue to face HUGE budget deficits every single year? Why is it that we are ALWAYS making cuts? And then it seems like we start adding positions again and BAM, cut again. Why cut positions of people like Roger Johnson who are doing their job when other administrators are not. I understand that enrollment is declining, but school officials should be anticipating that.
Is there anywhere that the board members email addresses are published?
Where is the leadership of the School Board? Spencer has always had the reputation of being a strong school with exceptional leadership. Administrative positions are difficult jobs to fill with quality leaders. In the blink of an eye, Spencer lost their prestigious school reputation. Perception is reality.......the distinction is gone. The decision to eliminate two positions Tuesday night will result in the flight of Spencer's quality administrators to a school district that will appreciate and support their talent. It is a travesty to believe that two of the most experienced people were eliminated! These positions are crucial to a successful school. These are not two positions that will be easy to fill. Where are the positive leaders in the Spencer Community? Why are the negatives running the meeting?
So if the Administrative Board has to work a bit harder to get the job done isn't that what they get paid to do. Big salaries should equal big jobs. I am sure there are plenty of people in town who got laid off and wished they had an opportunity to work at their job just a bit harder.
I don't know how they could possibly even think about letting Roger Johnson go. He does more work than most of the adminstration put together so I don't see how you can divide that up. He will be missed.
Granted some of the staff who are having their positions cut yes they are perhaps good people and probably go above and beyond what their duties are. But the bottom line is that cuts need to be made and that is that. I am sure that many of the people who have lost their jobs or gotten laid off for awhile, I would also bet that many of those people are good people and probably go above and beyond what is expected of them, but again that doesn't matter. Good people get their jobs cut in this ecomony. That is just how it is. Now don't get me wrong, I feel for everyone who has gotten laid off or has lost their job whether it be in the school system or where ever. But my point is that everyone is saying how can they cut certain positions like the athletic director because he and others have gone above and beyone what is expected of them. This is it....it doesn't matter, cuts have to be made and let the chips fall where they may. I for one still feel that many cuts could be made in the teacher's aides area. In my mind there are way to many TA's that are in the school system.
Bottom line is cuts need to be made and it doesn't matter who they are. I also believe that other cuts should also come from the central office and that some wages also need to be froze. I believe they did that in the white house for the staff there, perhaps we need to start that in our own communities in order to save some jobs.