Nearly a million dollars could be cut from the HUSD budget this year
We all know the economy is ugly right now. That ugliness is starting to hit home. A recent report over at the Republic says this:
Under the current state cuts, this southeast Gilbert district (HUSD) will have to cut as much as $930,000 from its maintenance and operations budget - the state aid portion that covers teacher salaries and administrative costs.
The district, with about 540 teachers, will have to slash about $160,000 from the soft capital category that covers textbooks, desks and other student needs in the classroom.
One thing that sets Higley apart from other districts is that it still is growing. Many established districts, such as Mesa Public Schools, are losing students.
The state gives school districts aid based on a per-student formula.
Birdwell foresees more trouble ahead, though, as the Legislature weighs where the budget ax will fall next. Ultimately, she and other education leaders expect the next budget round to result in staff reductions.
If that’s the case, Birdwell said the district will do everything it can to preserve teaching positions. However, Higley and every other state-funded district probably will have to cut classroom aides.
What does this mean for students, teachers and families?
Teachers will have bigger classes, Birdwell said.
“The days of the 20 (kids in a classroom), I think, are gone,” she said. “We’ll rely heavily on parent volunteers in the classroom.”
Ouch. Good thing the budget override passed at least… HUSD is going to be feeling the pinch more than most for the next year or two. Be prepared to volunteer parents…
Katie:
As I sat in the District Office Board room last night, I was filled with sadness, anger and disbelief. What is happening to our district? How are we allowing this to happen? With all of the announcements about job cuts, I took notice that there were no cuts in the amount of directors. Do we really need to keep TWO directors in education? Wouldn’t one work just fine? It seemed to work in the past. How many people are really needed in HR? They used to have two women running the department with one person leading them. now it appears they have quite the large team. Instead of letting administrators and teachers go, why not cut some of the fat from the district that was reorganized last year, only to bring in more and more unneeded additions and created positions?
I am also rather upset to hear that we may need to cut important positions such as Library staff, counselors etc. These positions are very necessary. Without councelors, who will assist in directing our children to college? Who will ensure they are on the right path? Who will be there for those children that do not have the support? Williams Field high School will be starting next fall with all four grades, yet they are going to cut both an assistant principal AND a counselor. Are we really thinking of the children and their best interest?
Am I understanding correctly that we have let an assistant principle go at one of our schools only to announce we will be bringing in a new one? Why not keep the one we have, which is obviously supported by the staff that was there to speak.
I really feel clarification is needed.
April 2, 2009, 7:45 amazfam:
Katie,
April 2, 2009, 9:10 pmThat is how I interpretted the assistant principal job.
I waited to the end of the meeting to get clarification from the bald guy who sits next to Birdwell (since he is supposed to be in charge of elementary schools)- but was told that he was tired and wanted to get home. Glad my tax dollars pay his salary. I worked all day too, and attended a meeting- I would have rather been home with my family also, but I wanted to hear what the plans for my student at Cortina were. He said he would answer phone calls in the morning. He was in meetings each time I called. What are they meeting about now- who else to fire?
Victoria:
As an employee of the district (at the district office) I was very upset on how they handled notifying fellow employees who were going to be let go. They waited to the end of the day, most of the people that were notified were already on their way to the door till someone caught them and asked them to come back to the office to have a word with them. They gave them the bad news that they were one of the employees who were choosen to be let go and that this would be their last day of employment. Then they were told to go back to their desks and pack up their stuff. What was sad was we all thought we would be notified 1st that we no longer would be employed for the following year. That we would have sometime once we were notified to look else where for other employment. Not to be let go the same afternoon once we got the news. Some employees were allowed to stay till the end of June, and some till September. I dont see a difference in employees asked to stay till the end of the school year from the ones asked to leave the same day. Many employees are starting to take down their stuff from around their desks in preparation if in case they get called in they wont have time to collect their stuff and get escorted out the door. What I dont understand that the district still has 1 Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent still working for the district. How do you justify her position if there no longer is and wont be a Assistant Superintendent next year. Oh I forgot, Lets just put her under one of the Curriculum Directors and say she is one of their Administrative Assistants. No one will know the difference. Hmmm, with the same enormous pay and the same benefits as a Administrator. Go figure. As I recall there has always been one not two administrative assistant in that department. Go figure how does an employee get on that protected/dont let me go list?
April 2, 2009, 10:47 pmKatie:
Victoria, I am not surprised by the way this is all coming down at the district office. Instead, I am sad and sickened at how the morale must be. The economy is bad enough and now for these people to be let go, with 2 months left on their contracts is extrememly disturbing to me. Were their salaries not projected into the budget when their contract was written?
As for the Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent continuing to have her job, I wondered the same thing. She should either be cut as well or Dr. Lutreys Admin Assistant should be. There is no need for both. To place her under the curriculum directors would not be a necessity either, they already have an assistant that covers that and there is no need for another.
It seems that there is and always has been a “secret club” in which certain people are members. These members are the ones that get the increases, flexible schedules and travel on district money for no apparent reason. These are the same people that feel that they are too good to talk to anyone lesser than them and for them to receive the high salaries is absurd.
I was not aware that some people were allowed to complete their contracts and others were extended through September. I was led to believe they were all notified and let go the same day. Why the need for an escort?
While I understand that the wonderful state of AZ is a right to work state and the employees of the district are “At Will” employees, Nothing would surprise me more than if a lawsuit shows real soon. I am sure the women of Change in AZ could provide them with the names of Attorneys that are familiar with the shenannigans going on.
Best of luck to all of those effected by this horrible chain of events.
April 3, 2009, 12:00 am