Cuts to Twinsburg School Staff Expected in Budget Plan

The may have fewer teachers and support personnel next year as part of comprehensive plan to reduce costs in the district.

The specifics on the positions to be cut and how many will depend on what cost-cutting measures school officials ultimately decide on this spring. Officials are looking to come up with at least $3.2 million, mostly in budget cuts but also new revenue.

“It’s the interest of the school district to remain focused on academic achievement,” Superintendent Kathryn Powers said.  “There have been no decisions made. This is merely a subject of conversation right now.”

Options on the table include 12 teaching positions, cuts to custodial staff, replacing school librarians with assistants and more. Some of these positions could be reduced by not filling vacant positions or through attrition.

If the district removes 12 teaching positions, it would save $876,000 in the first year and nearly $1.1 million per year after that. Because it would pay for unemployment for the first year, the full savings wouldn’t be seen until the next year.

Here are other position cuts under consideration by the district:

• 1.5 administrators- $143,000 in 2012-13; $160,000 per year
• Cuts to custodial (8), janitorial (1), mechanic (1) staff- $241,000; $321,200
• School psychologist- $85,000 per year
• Secretary staff- $119,000; $157,500
• Lunch aides- $10,000; $17,000
• Limiting foreign language offerings- $146,000; $180,000
• Guidance counselor (likely through retirement)- $73,000, $90,000
• Replacing all librarians with assistants- $140,000, $192,000
• Technology staff- $75,000 per year
• Para-professionals(two per building)- $165,000, $250,000

Many of the numbers won’t be confirmed for several months because of potential changes that are not known right now. Any changes to cuts in one area could affect the number of cuts or cost in another area.

Ron Stuver, school board president, wanted to give administrators a range to allow room for situations that aren’t foreseen right now.

“Things are changing so much that we need to give them room to move,” Stuver said.

The $3.2 million target range for the cuts and revenue will be officially approved at the school board meeting on Feb. 1.