District to make $1.2 million in cuts

New Richmond Exempted Village School District superintendent Adam Bird has proposed $1.2 million in cuts for the 2011-12 school year to keep the district in the black.

“We’re looking at a significant loss of revenue next year and in anticipation of that loss revenue we’re looking at cuts of 12 teaching positions as well as making changes to transportation and our aides,” said Bird, who was directed by the school board on April 1 to come up with a minimum of $1 million in cuts due to a projected loss of more than $1.2 million in state aid for next year.

Bird presented the school board with a plan that calls for savings of $852,000 in reduction of certified personnel, $136,000 in reduction of classified personnel, $90,000 from not hiring any substitute custodians, $41,000 from not hiring substitute classroom aides, $90,000 from transportation consolidation and reduction and $60,000 reduction in fees for county provided services.

The cuts total $1,269,000.

Most of the personnel reductions will come from not replacing retiring employees.
In addition to the reduction in state aid, New Richmond faces a loss of $344,000 in taxes paid by Duke Energy next year and beyond.

“This is good news to the taxpayers of New Richmond that we are responding quickly to the loss of revenue and that the district is determined not to spend more than it takes in next year,” said Bird.

Bird told the school board that any additional cuts will come from a reduction in force. He has presented a list to the teachers union but is withholding names until he meets with individuals on the list.