KCSD Task Force Proposes Massive Cuts for Board Consideration
BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – Representatives from a community task force have provided the Keystone Central School District with millions of dollars in cost-cutting options as the financially-strapped district begins early work on a 2018-19 budget. Some clearly would cut into the quality of education for district students.
One of the Thursday night presenters, Betsy Coffey from the secondary level committee, echoed a familiar theme when she said her group’s options were designed to affect the least number of students and expressed the hope changes to be considered could be implemented in a gradual manner.
Options were presented from seven different sub-committees. The greatest cost-saving proposals (and the greatest loss of staff) would be at the secondary and elementary levels. Ideas floated included a savings of $1.4 million at the secondary level through “Common Prep Time for Teachers outside of the student day.” As explained to therecord-online, teachers could lose their prep-planning period and have to teach seven periods per day rather than the current six, thus fewer teachers would be required.
Secondary level proposed options include a reduction in the number of electives at Central Mountain High School, a staff reduction of five teachers, a savings of $500,000; an increase in class size at Bucktail High School with a loss of four teachers and a savings of $400,000; a cut in the guidance department at Bucktail/Renovo Elementary from two counselors to one; a reduction in electives at Central Mountain Middle School, resulting in a reduction of three teachers and a savings of $300,000; elimination of five secondary teachers through attrition this school year (three special education, one English, one foreign language) with a savings of $500,000.
At the elementary level a savings of $600,000 would result under a proposal to “multi-grade classrooms at all buildings and transfer students to another building,” resulting in the need for fewer teachers. The elementary programming group also called for district consideration of a plan to switch building configurations to house a kindergarten – second grade center, a third and fourth grade center and a 5-8 grade center.
Another proposal calls for elimination of the district’s two-year-old Pre-K program, at a savings of $800,000 unless the program can be grant-funded (the district received a $425,000 grant this year). Another option is cutting the district’s enrichment program at a savings of $500,000, although it was noted the state requires gifted education services and other options would have to be pursued to stay within state compliance.
Offered as “things to consider” was a proposal to freeze all district wages in the next school year, the estimated savings more than $1.3 million. Options offered for athletics and extra-curricular activities included either a 10 or 25 percent decrease in the salaries of coaches and club advisors, elimination of a secretary and an increase to $100 for the cost of registration for athletes (per sport) and band members; also that the Bucktail football program go from a 10 to a nine game schedule.
After the meeting superintendent Kelly Hastings said the district appreciates the hard work of the task force and looks forward to their continued involvement as the district works through the budget process. A timeline was handed out Thursday: The next meeting will be Nov. 16 when the administration will present a proposed preliminary budget. Monthly meetings relating to the budget for the 2018-19 school year will then be held up until final budget adoption on June 14 of next year.
The Thursday session was well attended and the audience mannerly throughout.
