|
Published: July 30, 2008 11:07 pm
Schools tightening belts with cuts
1,000 staff positions statewide
By MIKE JAMES
The Independent
FRANKFORT —
State budget cuts are forcing school districts in Kentucky, including the FIVCO area, to cut staff.
A survey by the Kentucky School Boards Association found that statewide, school districts have cut almost 1,000 positions, said KSBA spokesman Brad Hughes.
Of 138 districts that responded to the association’s query, 89 said they had cut staff because of state budget cutbacks.
Among them were Raceland-Worthington and Lawrence County.
Some other area districts that haven’t responded to the survey also have suffered from the cutbacks.
Fairview, for instance, had to lay off three teachers, a significant loss for a district its size, said district Finance Director James Day.
The result could mean increases in class size, he said.
The much larger Boyd County district lost two positions because of state funding but left some others unfilled through attrition, Assistant Superintendent Mickey Rice said.
However, the Boyd district was able to find general fund money to add an additional position each to the high and middle schools and half position to each of the four elementaries.
That doesn’t necessarily mean more teachers, however. Instead, the schools are more likely to add to existing partial positions. A part-time teacher might be bumped up to full time, for instance.
Ashland has reduced some certified (faculty and administrative) positions and some classified (support staff) positions, said Superintendent Steve Gilmore, who did not have precise numbers available.
Enrollment is likely to be up from last year, which might ease the burden, he said. State funding is based primarily on the number of students in a district.
On the heels of cutting its classified staff last year, Lawrence County also has had to trim this year, said assistant supervisor Joe Hewlett. However, whenever possible, cuts have been made to keep teachers in the classroom, he said.
Raceland-Worthington was able to manage its cuts through attrition, Superintendent Frank Melvin said.
The KSBA found statewide, districts eliminated about 455 faculty and administrative positions and 520 support positions, Hughes said. That amounts to about 1 percent of faculty in the state.
The reason is the $14.7 million the state cut from the per-pupil funding formula it uses.
MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.
The Associated Press contributed information to this story.
• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
BLAIR TRANSPORT, INC.
Class A CDL Drivers for California runs FT or PT 23 yrs. old, no accidents & minimal traffic violations. 1 1/...>MORE
LPN WANTED
LPN position available at J.J. Jordan Geriatric Center Full-time; 12 hour shifts. Please contact Willa Cook, DON @ (606...>MORE
CERTIFIED NURSE AIDES
Needed at Oakmont Manor. We offer health, dental & life insurance, paid vacation & sick days, 401K plan, competitive w...>MORE
See all ads |
| Premium Cars, RVs and Boats |
JAYCO HERITAGE POP-UP
1999, sleeps 6, $3,500 firm amenities. 606-920-9510...>MORE
CAMPER FOR SALE
KEYSTONE ‘08, 29.9’ pd $25k-now $18.5k, partial trade new 606-922-6402...>MORE
JAYCO EAGLE RV
JAYCO- Eagle, 2000, 31’, 2 slides, fully equipped, $23,900. 740-354-9537....>MORE
See all ads |
|
APARTMENT FOR SALE
GAR. APT DUPLEX- new appl, 2810 Central Ave Make offer 606-232-1099...>MORE
FLATWOODS 2BR COTTAGE
FW- 1409 Clark St. 2BR cottage, HW fls., 2 bonus rms. $55k. 740-886-8742...>MORE
OHIO RIVER HOME FOR SALE
Beautiful 4K ft. home on KY side of OH River, 4-5 BR, 3+ BA, acre lot, $329k. Consider partial trade. 606-922-6402, 473-...>MORE
See all ads |
|
Patriot Tandem Trailer
TANDEM TRAILER- ‘07 6’x12’, pointed front, $2500 obo. 836-6191....>MORE
LAB PUPS
AKC, black, choc. 6 wks, wormed, 1st shots $300 740-532-2174...>MORE
HORSE FOR SALE
GAITED GELDING- tri color, 10 yrs, kid safe, $1,000. (606)831-4534....>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|