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Hernando Today

The Superintendent's Suggestions For Savings

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 14, 2009

Here is a rundown of some of the other ideas that schools Superintendent Wayne Alexander will bring to the board for consideration at a budget workshop slated for 2 p.m. Tuesday. Alexander said the level of controversy will likely rise with the tiers.

Tier One

• Renegotiate contracts with program providers. One example is a contract with the firm Lindamood Bell, which provides lessons for the lowest performing readers. Estimated savings: $1.2 million.

• Shut down all school facilities in July and during the winter and spring breaks. Savings: nearly $656,000. The district will have to be mindful of impacting FCAT classes, YMCA programs and summer prekindergarten, Alexander said.

• Reduce exceptional education support positions by four. Savings: nearly $585,000.

• Reorganize facilities maintenance department, cutting nine positions and saving about $369,000.

• Reduce the school substitute teacher budget by more than $341,000.

• Eliminate three math coach positions for savings of more than $171,000.

• Reduce ratio of custodians to square feet of facility space, trimming five positions and saving $156,000.

Tier Two

• Reduce middle school reading teachers for students meeting state FCAT standards; cut the number of reading coaches from 20 to 10. Total estimated savings: $1.1 million.

• Cut 10 assessment teachers. Savings: $571,000.

• Reduce the transitional positions at elementary schools by 12 for a savings of about $685,000.

• Reduce funding for middle school sports, savings of about $300,000. The costs could be passed on to parents, Alexander said.

• Reduce ESOL teachers by five for a savings of about $285,000.

• Reduce principals' contracts by 10 days and assistant principal contracts by 33 days for a total savings of about $240,000.

• Reduce transportation to athletic events and eliminate activity bus service. Savings of about $106,000.

Tier Three

• Reduce contributions to employee health insurance. A 15 percent increase is projected in 2009-10 and if the district covers half of that increase it would save $524,000. If the district decides to cover none of the increase, the savings jump to more than $1 million.

• Cut health insurance benefits for new 20-hour employees. Savings of some $538,000 would be realized over the next few years, Alexander said.

• Cut the number of work days for noninstructional employees by 10, for a savings of nearly $497,000. This would have to be negotiated with the Hernando United School Workers, or HUSW.

• Cut the supplementary pay budget by $500,000. The budget is used to pay teachers who take on additional responsibilities such as coaching or teaching extra classes. Any reduction would require negotiation with the teachers union.

• Use contractors for at least some of the district's lawn care and maintenance work for a savings of about $378,000. This also would require negotiations with HUSW.

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