From the Indianapolis Star:
Just a few weeks before residents here vote on whether to raise their own taxes to keep the local school system afloat, the Zionsville School Board is planning to go ahead and cast a vote of its own today -- to cut 16 full-time positions.
Among the educational programs to see cuts: high school music and physical education. The entire German language program would be eliminieren. Middle school would be cut to a six-period day, losing world language and music offerings. And three elementary classroom teachers would be cut.
If the timing sounds like a ploy to win support for the tax increase, it's a bit more complicated.
The terms of the contract with the local teachers union require the administration to notify any laid-off staff members by May 1. This action must be done now in order to meet that deadline.
Of course, Zionsville Superintendent Scott Robison made clear Friday that if the referendum should pass, the cuts expected to be made tonight will be reversed.
But that might not be enough to get voters to agree to a local school tax increase amounting to 24.44 cents per $100 assessed value -- which adds up to about $239 extra per year for a $200,000 home.
A similar measure in November 2010 failed as voters rejected a 29.5 cent increase. The rejection resulted in layoffs for 21 teaching and counseling positions.
Just a few weeks ago, the Zionsville Taxpayers for Responsible Education announced it is urging voters to reject the referendum.
Kathleen Fon, president of the group that fought the referendum two years ago, said the school system finds itself in trouble because of loose spending habits in a time of recession.
"They haven't got their priorities straight," Fon said, pointing to teacher salary increases that ranged from 3.3 percent to 8 percent last year, with a similar scale this year.
"Is it more important to give these raises than prevent overcrowding in our classrooms? They should look at these kinds of cuts, rather than 'RIFFing' teachers."
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The immediate impact of the cuts proposed now would be a savings of $1 million. Zionsville needs to trim about $2.5 million before the end of 2013, so if the referendum fails, the School Board is likely to add a round of layoffs next year.
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http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012204230320#Scene_1
