MCCSC committee puts tax levy to use

Restore programs. Replenish the operating balance. Reform instruction.

The Monroe County Community School Corporation’s budget committee is recommending an approach they have called “the three R’s” to distribute the estimated $7.5 million the school corporation will receive from the tax levy referendum.

The committee’s 10 members presented their proposal for the first time Tuesday at a public work session held by the school board.

The first is to restore programs. After a $5.8 million state budget cut, MCCSC was forced to cut many programs and lay off 50 classroom teachers in February 2010.

The budget committee reviewed the cuts and determined what positions and programs should be restored.

Although the committee did not recommend restoring class sizes to the 2009-10 student to teacher ratio, members encouraged the school board to restore an estimated 36 teaching positions.

Peggy Chambers, assistant superintendent for human resources and personnel and a member of the budget committee, said the number of restored teaching positions is only an estimate and the actual number will depend on students’ course selections and enrollment numbers.

Other positions suggested for restoration include two elementary school assistant principals, six literary coaches, two special education positions and two teaching positions for middle school world language programs.

School Board Secretary Martha Street expressed concern about the number of counselors laid off.

Street said the student to counselor ratio has increased drastically after one position was cut in 2009 and one again in 2010.

Joel McKay, guidance counselor at Jackson Creek Middle School, said he too is worried.

McKay, a former counselor at Bloomington High School South, still teaches at the high school and has witnessed the ratio increase to one counselor per 400 students.

“We are constantly criticized for our graduation rates, but then they are cutting the people whose job it is to help them,” McKay said. “Often the counselors are the last person that students who are at risk of dropping out come to.”

Committee members did not have time to comment on why guidance counselors were omitted from the proposal.

The committee also recommended returning extracurricular funding to 100 percent of its original amount.

Members discussed the restoration of staff development programs, the Bradford Woods retreat, Honey Creek School programs and maintenance vehicles.

The estimated annual cost of the proposed restorations is $3,968,943.

The second “R” is to replenish the operating balance. The committee provided the school board with a summary of the long term financial projection for 2011-16.

In its financial analysis, the committee assumed there would be no increases in state funding for 2012, 2013 or 2014.

Members also took a neutral position regarding salaries and benefits and assumed the rate of inflation would remain in the range of 1 percent to 2 percent for goods and services purchased by MCCSC.

“We don’t know how long state support will stay flat, so we have no reason to assume any increase until after 2013,” said Tim Thrasher, comptroller and member of the committee.

Thrasher said the committee’s priority was to establish a balanced budget.

MCCSC’s revenue for 2010 was $65,304,600 and is projected to increase to $74,720,206 in 2011.

For 2012-16, the committee projected the revenue to remain constant at around $71,540,000.

Considering the school corporation’s projected expenditures, budget committee members said they expect the budget to balance by 2012.

Thrasher said there are a number of things that contribute to the financial projections for 2011.

He said the referendum, a one-time money transfer from capital projects to the general fund and generous donations from Joshua Bell and the Jacobs School of Music contribute to the extracurricular activity fund as well as the general fund.

School board member Jeannine Butler said she would need time to review the proposal. She said she needs more information from the budget committee.

“I want to see all things costed out before I can give support,” Butler said after the presentation. “A breakdown of all the costs would be really helpful.”

Committee members said it is important for recommendations to be reviewed annually.

“We want to make sure the recommendations are generating the kinds of funds we’re expecting and that we’re getting our money’s worth,” Thrasher said.

The third “R” is to reform instruction. Cameron Rains, director of secondary education and a member of the budget committee, said he knows there is room for improvement within the instructional system.

Rains presented many opportunities for reform to the school board.

Committee members recommended the school board restore the six literacy coaches that were cut in 2010 and add two more.

“There is a whole lot of research about literary coaches and their ability to support,” Rains said during the presentation. “Our belief as a committee is that teachers don’t have the time to teach all day and take care of the literacy related tasks.”

Committee members reminded those in attendance that schools will be required to retain third grade students who do not pass the state reading test beginning at the end of next school year due to recent Indiana legislation.

30 percent to 37 percent of MCCSC students are reading below grade level, committee members said, but they are confident that literacy coaches would improve that percentage.

Examining the question of what happens when a student cannot learn despite a teacher’s best effort, committee members proposed a new position be added to MCCSC schools, tentatively named an interventionist.

According to the proposed plan, students that are struggling with math, English and literacy skills would be identified by classroom teachers, guidance counselors and administrators. They would then be provided additional help.

“We’re not categorizing students as someone who needs intervention,” Rains said. “It’s going to be different every day. Every student has their strengths and weaknesses.”

The committee has proposed to place four content interventionists in each high school.

To replace the closing of Aurora Alternative High School and the Youth Outreach program, the committee announced plans to create alternative options for academically, socially and behaviorally challenged students. The plan is still in the works.