Whitley County Consolidated Schools will reduce 9 positions to meet budget
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
It wasn't the news anyone wanted to hear -- but it was news the community has known for weeks would be coming.
On Monday night, the Whitley County Consolidated School board determined that nine positions would be cut in order to meet the school's budget. Sources say those cuts are likely to fall within vocational positions as well as some maintenance and secretarial positions.
Early retirement will be likely be offered to 11 employees as well.
According to a source, employees involved have been notified about the reduction in force at this point, among them: a person in the family and consumer sciences department at CCHS and two in the business department at CCHS. Additionally, a position in the radio station/video production department has been reduce to part-time.
WCCS superintendent Dr. Patricia O'Connor told the board and media Monday night the cuts were necessary in order to strip nearly $1 million from the budget. The WCCS school board will vote on the proposed cuts during their May meeting.
"Teachers have already opened up their contract and said no to a 2.5% raise," said a source Tuesday, "and that saved seven jobs."
Our source said while reduction in force turned out to be less eliminated positions that had been originally rumored, there are still a lot of concerns.
"We don't have enough money to pay the teachers we have," the source said, adding that it didn't make sense that the school system would make those cuts in positions and still move ahead to spend $1.9 million to construct a New Tech high school.
"New Tech is a great program for some kids, but what's the problem with hitting the brakes on this," the source asked. "The climate is supposed to be worse next year -- so are they going to have riff more teachers next year? Is that responsible?"
"A lot of teachers are upset and a lot of community members should be too," a source continued. "My main concern is if we want to continue to offer the best programs for students to succeed, tough decisions are going to have to be made...its happening everywhere."
It wasn't the news anyone wanted to hear -- but it was news the community has known for weeks would be coming.
On Monday night, the Whitley County Consolidated School board determined that nine positions would be cut in order to meet the school's budget. Sources say those cuts are likely to fall within vocational positions as well as some maintenance and secretarial positions.
Early retirement will be likely be offered to 11 employees as well.
According to a source, employees involved have been notified about the reduction in force at this point, among them: a person in the family and consumer sciences department at CCHS and two in the business department at CCHS. Additionally, a position in the radio station/video production department has been reduce to part-time.
WCCS superintendent Dr. Patricia O'Connor told the board and media Monday night the cuts were necessary in order to strip nearly $1 million from the budget. The WCCS school board will vote on the proposed cuts during their May meeting.
"Teachers have already opened up their contract and said no to a 2.5% raise," said a source Tuesday, "and that saved seven jobs."
Our source said while reduction in force turned out to be less eliminated positions that had been originally rumored, there are still a lot of concerns.
"We don't have enough money to pay the teachers we have," the source said, adding that it didn't make sense that the school system would make those cuts in positions and still move ahead to spend $1.9 million to construct a New Tech high school.
"New Tech is a great program for some kids, but what's the problem with hitting the brakes on this," the source asked. "The climate is supposed to be worse next year -- so are they going to have riff more teachers next year? Is that responsible?"
"A lot of teachers are upset and a lot of community members should be too," a source continued. "My main concern is if we want to continue to offer the best programs for students to succeed, tough decisions are going to have to be made...its happening everywhere."