Will boards pay at polls for state school cuts?
State government sets operating budgets for local schools, but it is local school officials who will have to answer for the budget decisions they make in coming weeks.
This being an election year, voters will be giving some feedback on those decisions, some sooner than others.
Like every other public school district in the state, Fort Wayne Community Schools must make state-ordered cuts in its spending. Though state officials have encouraged school districts to seek creative ways to cut spending outside the classroom, in FWCS and many other districts, payroll budgets will be cut.
Indeed, two-thirds of the Fort Wayne Community Schools general fund consists of $144.4 million in salaries and wages. Some of the cuts will necessarily include layoffs, pay freezes and cuts in benefits.
For a number of districts, including FWCS and probably East Allen County Schools, it also will mean closing buildings, something at least some voters are sure to oppose.
Elections in East Allen, Southwest Allen County Schools and Northwest Allen County Schools are irresponsibly held with the May primary, almost assuredly discouraging independent voters and holding down voter turnout. The FWCS school board election will draw more voters because it’s in November. FWCS board members whose terms expire this year are board President Mark GiaQuinta, Pamela Martin-Diaz, Mitch Sheppard and Kevin Brown.
Those running for re-election will try to explain to voters that their decisions were the most responsible given the circumstances. But at least some voters will likely lose sight of the state’s role in closing schools.
Bennett’s profile
In that environment, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett is making the rounds of Republican events throughout the state. He was scheduled to speak Monday on behalf of a state representative candidate in Evansville, and he will give Lincoln Day dinner keynote speeches in Auburn and Decatur next month. He delivered the address in Whitley County last month.
Bennett’s address in Whitley County was well received, and his cost-cutting mantra largely appeals to Republicans.
Last month, Bennett praised officials at three school districts for “their successful efforts to cut budgets without compromising classroom instruction,” as a news release from his office said. One sold and consolidated buildings; another reduced and consolidated course offerings.
That doesn’t affect classroom instruction?
Cutting costs
Before teachers and advocates of particular schools oppose school board incumbents because of their cost-cutting decisions, they may want to consider the cuts that the Indiana State Board of Education advised school officials to consider that aren’t supposed to affect classroom instruction. They include:
•“Freeze, reduce or roll back the present salary and benefits of all employees.”
•Narrow “elective offerings within core subjects.”
•Reduce the number of extracurricular sports, teams and clubs, “or use participation fees or sponsorships to pay for them.”
•“Increase class sizes that reduce teaching staff in classes where educational outcome will not be negatively impacted.”
•“Encourage reconfiguration of buildings.”
•“Sell or lease surplus properties.”
•“Outsource transportation, cafeteria, janitorial and other ancillary services.”
Bottom line: Almost every cut that school boards will make is a cut that state education officials directed them to consider.
The filing window for Fort Wayne Community Schools board opened last week. But so far no one has turned in the paperwork to run. The deadline is Aug. 20.