School Comments by Dr. Robert Mayer Last week's School Comments article mentioned that the Vermillion School District has been experiencing revenue shortfalls due to the loss of students and inadequate state funding. The school board dealt with this problem by making budget cuts and spending its reserve account (fund balance).
In addition to budget cuts the school board has enhanced the general fund revenues. This was done in a variety of ways, for example, purchasing textbooks from capital outlay instead of the general fund and employing four teachers from grant funds.
The purpose of this article is to provide readers with a list of the budget cuts made since 2001-02. All of the cuts were made in the general fund.
The specific budget cuts are listed below.
Budget Cuts in General Fund 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04
Vermillion High School
Eliminate library/computer aide $10,500
Eliminate transportation/study hall aide $13,600
Eliminate paid early bird classes $8,000
Eliminate .4 FTE physical education teacher $8,400
Eliminate French teacher position $11,400
Reduce district contribution to yearbook $12,000
Reduce extra-curricular activities $15,000
Eliminate by attrition math/computer teacher $45,000
Add athletic director duties to dean of students $5,000
Increase activity ticket prices $4,000
Total $132,900
Vermillion Middle School
Eliminate careers class $12,900
Eliminate foreign language position $28,000
Eliminate library aide $13,700
Eliminate eighth-grade reading 35,000
Reduce vocal music lessons $12,000
Total $101,600
Note: The middle school was restructured for 2002-03. Class periods increased by 10 minutes each and some staff are shared with the high school. Some additional course offerings, Spanish, Consumer/Life Science and Drama were added using existing staff without additional cost.
Elementary Schools
Eliminate through attrition one teacher $49,900
Eliminate .4 FTE computer teacher
(covered by other staff) $11,125
Eliminate some aide time $6,000
Total $67,025
Administration
Eliminate .5 FTE VMS assistant principal $19,900
Eliminate national convention expense $5,300
Eliminate VHS assistant principal and create
dean of students $23,000
Reduce supply accounts $2,000
Eliminate central office administrative assistant $13,000
Total $63,200
District Wide
Eliminate gifted education $34,360
Eliminate K-9 Alternative School $48,051
Eliminate district contribution to Native
American Coordinator $6,000
Reduce physical education .8 FTE $22,265
Reduce software budget $5,000
Reduce supply accounts 20 percent $48,691
Reduce custodial staff $14,000
Reduce board's advertising budget $2,000
Eliminate new teacher mentor program $11,000
Total $191,367
Total Budget Cuts $556,092
The specific revenue enhancements are listed below.
Retirement Savings $90,000
Purchase textbooks from capital outlay $116,700
15 percent of transportation contract to
capital outlay $37,600
Hire teachers from grant funds $120,000
General fund expenditures to Special Education Fund $58,659
E-Rate Savings $3,000
Booster Club Donation 5,000
Storage lease to capital outlay $3,000
One time savings $85,000
* Interest earned or not spent $55,000
* Reduction of unemployment fund $30,000
Total revenue shifts or enhancements $518,959
Salaries for all staff were frozen for the 2002-2003 school year
Total budget cuts and revenue enhancements $1,075,051
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