The Jackson County Board of Education approved a sweeping set of financial cutbacks Wednesday morning, including the elimination of 38 teaching and non-teaching positions, closing the Regional Evening School program, furloughing 12-month employees for five days and the suspension or elimination of several other programs.
Included in the cuts is the elimination of an assistant superintendent’s position. Dr. Keith Everson, assistant superintendent for human resources and support services, is one of the 12 certified positions in the district that will be eliminated for the 2009-2010 school year.
The actions come after last week’s in-house BOE retreat, during which the board discussed the system’s finances in detail. While much of the district’s state-provided funds remains uncertain, the school system is clearly facing a drop in revenue for the 2009-2010 fiscal year budget.
Board chairperson Kathy Wilbanks said district officials reviewed all options to reduce costs without compromising the quality of education.
Overall, the school system anticipates starting the 2009-2010 school year with more than 530 teachers, compared to 545 in the current school year.
County School System cutbacks
•Closing the Regional Evening School program at the Gordon Street Center, saving $374,108.
•Eliminating all three middle school graduation coach positions, saving $257,574.
•Ending the middle school Spanish program and eliminating one corresponding teaching position, saving $64,107.
•Eliminating one elementary art teaching position, saving $80,799.
•Eliminating one elementary music teacher position, saving $62,384.
•Eliminating the high school graduation test prep program and two corresponding positions, saving $121,597.
•Eliminating the Youth Apprenticeship Program and one corresponding position, saving $56,991.
•Eliminating the assistant superintendent for human resources and support services positions, saving $156,232.
•Eliminating 26 classified positions, including 18 special education paraprofessionals, who will lose their positions due to a decrease in the number of students enrolled in special education classes. District leaders say a “pyramid of intervention” is pinpointing which students require more intensive academic assistance before being placed in special education classes. Several other paraprofessional and clerical positions will also be eliminated. The total savings anticipated is $550,000.
•Mandating a five-day furlough for all 12-month contract employees — which includes all superintendents, directors, coordinators, head high school football coaches, principals, assistant principals, and some fine arts directors. Those employees working part-time will be furloughed for 2.5 days.The move is expected to save the school system $110,900 in salaries and benefits. The affected employees will spread their furloughed days throughout the 2009-2010 school year. If the state imposes furloughs, the school system will adjust its plans so that no more than five days total will be furloughed.
•Restricting out-of-system travel for training and conferences to those that are required or are essential to program activities. Instead, the school system plans to provide more in-house training for a potential savings of $252,000.
• Other cuts include no band camps to save $20,000, holding all BOE and administrative retreats in-house to save $10,000, and trimming four non-certified positions in the district’s central office to save a total of $96,440.
•Enforcing field trip requirements to trim costs and not replace teacher laptops for an estimated $240,000 savings.
• Other possible cuts range from providing in-house ant control (saving an estimated $15,745) to eliminating the system-paid portion of employee dental insurance (saving an estimated $264,500).
They already share books, and they are not allowed to bring them home, which makes it near to impossible to help with the homework they do not understand.
It's also really funny how that school has already hired way more that they let go.So tell me how that is cutting the budget.
This was highly unnecessary guess anything to
sell papers though no matter who you hurt.
You scumbag.
He's one of those special people that make you feel comfortable even when first meeting him. The school district's morale and image will suffer because of this HUGE mistake. Dr. Everson's presence is invaluable -- his positive attitude and honorable influence will be sorely missed by the Jackson County School District employees!
You have no clue.......!!
BTW: Cutting the dental insurance contribution is DEFINITELY a reduction in wages. This is just a different way of doing so, instead of saying "teacher pay reduced". . . what was the average amount contributed by the county for each teacher?
Can someone please explain to me what a "graduation coach" in middle school was responsible for? Will others (ie teachers) be taking on this duty?
Also curious if these "certified" employees that were "let go" were "certified" in anything beyond their curret job description. . .
. . .i'm just sayin'. More deep thoughts to come. . .
Dr. Everson - Thank you for the degree of dignity and the wealth of knowledge you brought to Jackson County. The student's and employee's lives you have touched will always be better because of you. You will be missed.
Just a thought.......A tight knit group you dont want to cross?
This is your childs education your talking about. You shouldn't care who you cross YOU have legal rights that CAN NOT be changed by these people. learn them and DON"T BE AFRAID TO USE THEM. they can't do anything to you and if they try to take it out on your child then they would have LEGAL Issues comming.
FEDERAL LAW states your child has a RIGHT to an education.
When my children were in the school system they hated to see me come through the door because I KNOW MY RIGHTS when it comes to my childs education. I made sure that they did what they should have done NO COMPROMISE'S.
That being said, I understand the importance of arts, as I went through the band and chorus programs when I was in school. You gain self-discipline, the ability to accept and improve upon criticism, and tremendous interpersonal skills.
Still, our math and science programs are very weak (I'm currently a science major in college and I see first hand every day how unprepared I was) and if there isn't enough money to go around all the programs then the least important one is probably arts.
The funny part is that the band may bring in more people that the LOOSING FOOTBALL TEAM at the comprehensive high school.
Maybe they need to look at the coach and replace him with someone who can win (and cost the county less in the process).
Can't take away what's you don't have..funds! How about having a little compassion for the families who have just lost income and just for once not whine about what the band isn't getting.
Jackson/Hartsfield airport at night. We have often
commented that it was a waste of money to burn so many
lights at light. You would think with all the printed
advise to think green and turn off your lights when
you leave a room,that those in charge would use
common sense, look at this situation and correct it,
especially with the current budget cuts. One
light for each area would be more than enough and the
county deputies should be checking the area often.
The power bill has to be huge.
The majority of the employees who are going to be around for the next school year, you have Everson to thank!
I think they could cut out the in school suspension teacher and after school suspension teachers. That is rewarding to the kids and does not give them punishment, it punishes the parents who have to pick them up since they cannot ride the bus.
The band works hard to pay for what they have, just like the sports teams.
You are right about one thing - there WILL be band camp but as far as funding goes, please verify your information before commenting.
If you know something, please feel free to enlighten us. Speculation is best left to those who know not what they speak of.
Too bad another neighboring County is going to get a top notch addition to their staff.
As for the pay for the positions, if I am not mistaken, the total number they printed includes salary, benefits, vacation time, etc. It is not only the salary.
Finally, GeorgiaGirl, it sounds like you were let go by Dr. Everson and with your attitude of revenge I applaud his decision. Glad you are not teaching or dealing with my kids.
Go Dogs.
Is it any wonder college professors are pulling their hair out with the freshmen we send them?
band nor football are the issue here folks...
There, their and they're. There's a difference unless you're a hick.
However, what little I do know is this. The vast majority of any education budget is consumed by employee pay and benefits. While the percentages may vary from district to district, most school systems are spending in the neighborhood of 85% of their budgets on salaries and benefits. The remaining 15% is simply too tiny an amount to finagle, but as outlined in the article, cuts are being made in numerous areas (bus route mileage, field trips, music, art, etc.).
All cutting hurts. Obviously, it can be taken too personally, but the district is trying to NOT spend money it does NOT have so as NOT to go into deep debt. As we are seeing in Washington, government spending run amok incurs deeper debt, greater inflation, and future financial uncertainty especially for those who actually do pay their income taxes, property taxes, sales tax, and additional nuisance taxes - aw shucks, it effects everybody.
Finally, I have had both the privilege and honor when I used to teach and coach to work with or around both Dr. V. Shannon Adams and Dr. Keith Everson. Both men are consumate professionals. I also have either worked with or taught and coached children of four of the five BOE members. Losing Dr. Everson and the remaining positions is not some calloused and thoughtless decison. Loss means what it is says - it is a huge loss. Believe it or not, it also hurts the decision makers too.
don't forget, it's we the people
Jefferson City Schools outrank them in every way.
As a JCCHS graduate, I would NEVER put my child there.
The student may have misunderstood me, or it may be that only certain grade levels are offered general music class. (I'm a Music Ed Major, but I am not yet familiar with the Jackson County school system.) But to hear a second grader say that...it breaks my heart! :'(
Music in our Schools Month (March) is fast approaching. I wonder what that will be like in Jackson County this year.
Our Goverment as far as Education goes should start taking care of this business ASAP it is too late for a lot of our children now............
Jackson County should vote out the entire school board and then fire the entire office staff! We as tax payers will have to clean up the mess they have created.
Yes, there are people out there that think my ideas are stupid, dumb, crazy, so forth and so on. But it is our children that are being affected by all this cut back crap. They say take it from education they don't need it. Well parents, people, these children are our future and if we keep taking from them we won't have a future. Who is to blame then? I am a tax payer, parent, work in education and love children, special ed and all. Lets all take a stand people and take our schools back for our children's sake. If we aren't there for them then who is? The BOE? The goverment? They are the ones taking. It is time to give back lets work together and stop these people from cutting our children's educating.
I think all the teachers being laid off should show up at the next board meeting. Maybe they could talk to the principal at the high school for a job. I’m sure Mr. McGhee could create some positions!
I think all the teachers being laid off should show up at the next board meeting. Maybe they could talk to the principal at the high school for a job. I’m sure Mr. McGhee could create some positions!
You can do that these days, just provide transportation!
Soon to Transfer, you might want to make sure you have all of your information straight. I understand that the new coach is actually much younger than you indicate, and will help give girls' athletics the respect that they deserve. Dr. Adams has had the difficult job of telling his staff that their positions are no longer. It has certainly been a difficult job that he did not want to do. As far as Dr. McGhee goes, I find him to be a firm, yet fair administrator. He cares about academics first, but also realizes the importance of athletics in high school. I am delighted that we have administrators that care for education in Jackson County. Times are difficult everywhere.
Maybe at home with their parents...It is the job of the parents to raise their children, not the government's (school's).
"The kids who participate enjoy it and that should be all that counts"
No. Can we afford it? That's the first question.