Marple Newtown School Board Approves 2011-12 Budget With 37 Positions Eliminated

NEWTOWN SQUARE–With two days to spare to submit their final budget plan for the 2011-12 school year to the state, school officials voted 8-1 to pass their $67 million budget with a unanimous vote for the 5.5 percent tax levy increase on June 28.

For the average homeowner assessed with a $250,000 property, the 5.5 percent increase reflects $224 more per year in taxes. By the end of May, the increase, which originally called for .

Since then, after much debate and discussion from the public and the board, Marple Newtown school officials were able to but with several conditions including looking for cuts in other areas of the budget–particularly other positions.

The final budget revealed 37 positions to be eliminated, in which some were vacancies that would not be replaced for next year.

"That money that would be used to replace those jobs will be part of the savings," said Lance Freeman, Marple Newtown School District director of Human Resources. "We're saving the financial impact of replacing someone."

Those positions cut from next year's budget included:

• 1 Custodial Supervisor (Operations), who was reassigned;
• 1 Manager of Computer Services (Curriculum), who retired;
• 2 Math Specialists (Elementary), who were reassigned to regular education classrooms due to two retirements;
• 1 German Full-Time German Teacher, whose hours may be reduced;
• 6 Library Assistants;
• 4 Special Education Assistants;
• 1 Office Assistant (Middle School);
• 3 Classroom Assistants;
• 5 Building Assistants;
• 2 Title 1 Assistants;
• 1 Six-Hour Non-Instructional Assistant;
• 7 Head Custodians;
• 2 Custodians; and
• 1 Maintenance Worker.

According to Freeman, several of the positions were to be placed on the chopping board from the very beginning–those included the library, special education and office assistants. But to save the four elementary school office assistants, Freeman said there needed to be a trade-off.

"The focus was to save the office assistants at the elementary schools," responded Freeman when asked why there was only one office assistant position eliminated from the middle school. "Because the middle school has other secretarial support staff in their building. So, although the middle school is losing an office assistant, they have alternatives for help there whereas the elementary schools do not."

In addition, 10 long-term substitutes were terminated on June 17  of this year, as their assignments have ended.

Several teachers were also reassigned to other positions–eight of which were transferred from their current positions, some to another school in the district. Freeman said in many cases, teachers with other certifications were reassigned to other positions before cutting their own positions.

Although 37 staff positions were cut from the 2011-12 budget, 34 new appointments were made of which included younger teachers with 0-3 years of experience, summer custodians and operations personnel.

With the recent lifesaver thrown to the German program at , Freeman said the German teacher's hours will be reduced but is still pending until the scheduling is finalized.

An employee contract addendum for the administrative staff with the school district were also approved by the board. The superintendent, assistant superintendent, business administrator, director of operations and director of human resources contracts were approved for a 1-year extension of the current employee's term in return for a zero percent salary increase for the following school year.

"I would personally like to thank the administration for all their hard work. The fact that they accepted the zero increase, it has really helped us financially and it's kind of set the stage for the entire year for us," said school board President David McGinley.

A few other members also shared the same sentiments.

"I thank the administration for recognizing the economic situation that we're in and for helping us keep the budget down," said board member Fred Dewey.

School board Vice President Rich Sokorai also added, "I just think it shows tremendous leadership."

Board member Kathryn Chandless was the lone nay for the vote on the budget and shared her concerns for the elimination of a particular group of assistants.

"The only thing that I'll say is that eliminating the classroom assistants is a mistake," said Chandless.

For a list of all the positions that were eliminated, reassigned or for new appointments, view the attached PDF of the agenda under the photo gallery.