Gary Moskowitz
Supt. Jim Brown will ask the school board Tuesday to approve a plan
that would keep smaller class sizes in kindergarten through third
grade, as well as ninth grade, in the coming school year.
Brown's plan is to staff the elementary and ninth-grade classes
slightly higher than they have been, from 19 students to each teacher
to 20 students per educator.
An estimated $1 million in combined federal and district funds
could be saved by changing the ratio, Brown said.
More than 40 full-time, credentialed teachers have already
received preliminary layoff notices, but the plan would keep more of
those teachers employed, Brown said. An unknown number of temporarily
employed teachers would be laid off first, Brown said. The district
must determine its staffing levels by May 15.
The board will meet in closed session at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and
reconvene at 4:40 p.m. in open session to discuss the budget.
"We have to adopt a budget, but we can't keep postponing it like
the Legislature is doing," Brown said. "They are not moving, but we
have to, and right now we are taking an optimistic approach to this."
Brown's budget proposal also recommends cutting district-office
management and staffing, reducing student transportation to Clark
Magnet High School, reducing districtwide events and leaving many
positions that have become vacant unfilled.
"We think we can hold on to class-size reduction in K-3 and ninth
grade for at least another year, and minimize staff reductions,"
Brown said.
Brown's plan is contingent upon the state granting flexibility in
class-size reduction program requirements. The district would have to
reduce staff if that flexibility is not granted, Brown said.
The district has not issued layoff notices to its classified
employees -- custodians, clerical and support staff -- but the board
must vote to do so by May 15 if they want the option, Brown said.
Proposed reductions at the state level would probably trigger
reductions to classified staff next month, Brown said.
