Eudora Board of Education considers cuts
Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010
Building closures, staff reductions, an end to all-day kindergarten and a shortened school week are just a few of the options Eudora Board of Education members are considering for the next year, in light of the current state budget crisis. Superintendent of Schools Don Grosdidier presented board members with a list of possible cost-savings measures at the Feb. 11 meeting.
Click here to download an information sheet about how district operations are being affected by reductions in state aid.
It is estimated that Eudora Schools could lose close to $1 million during the 2010-11 school year if the state legislature does not identify new sources of revenue. No cuts have been made yet for next year, but the following measures were identified as possible ways that could make up for continuing and projected losses in state aid next year.
- Close West Early Childhood Family Center for the short term
- Eliminate all-day kindergarten; revert to half-day program
- Eliminate Parents as Teachers program
- Close Nottingham to all public use
- Eliminate one administrator position at EHS/EDTEC
- Reduce EDTEC instructor positions
- Eliminate one EDTEC program
- Eliminate three EMS reading positions and one half-time math skills position
- Eliminate secondary library aide position
- Reduce the number of school days
- Restructure teacher inservice/early release program
- Examine possible student fees
- Outsource evening custodial cleaning and possibly activity transportation services
Grosdidier asked board members to consider these possible measures and be prepared to begin making decisions in April. But he stressed that there is no positive way to approach this funding crisis.
"Proposing changes like these is a painful process," he said in an e-mail to district employees. "I do not want to recommend any of these cuts, nor is the board enthusiastic about making them. However, it is critical that we are prepared for the kinds of challenges that may come our way — and this is part of the planning process."
Grosdidier encouraged board members, employees and other concerned individuals to contact elected officials in Topeka and explain what's at stake in our schools.
"Now is the time to let them know what these cuts mean," he said. "We can't cut any deeper without doing major damage, and we can't wait any longer to share our concerns. Student learning, local jobs and our community's quality of life are all on the line."
He also said the real problems were not at the local level, but rather at the state level. He added that the school board is only dealing with a situation created by the state legislature and stressed that it's up to state legislators to find meaningful solutions.
"The cuts we are looking at only symptoms of the bigger problem," he said. "And until the legislature identifies new sources of revenue at the state level, these are the sorts of painful choices that our school board and school boards across Kansas must face."
Click here to download an information sheet about how district operations are being affected by reductions in state aid.
Click here to read about legislative advocacy, including contact information for elected officials.
