Racine Unified Budget Cuts at $5.2 Million and More are Coming

The Racine Unified School District administration on Mon., April 18 proposed $5.2 million in spending cuts to help balance the 2011-12 budget, including eliminating the equivalent of 19 fulltime positions, a smaller Administrative Service Center staff and improved efficiencies.

Another $2.2 million in cost reductions will be identified within the next few weeks to produce a preliminary budget by late June, said David Hazen, RUSD’s chief financial officer.

Superintendent Dr. Jim Shaw said because the expected $7.4 million in cuts are so broad-based, he wants to schedule at least two public hearings this spring.

“We understand that the public schools belong to the community, and we understand that the public has concerns,” he said.

Shaw added that the budget cuts are in addition to the $19 million that the district received in benefits concessions from its five bargaining units. The shortfall stems from the upcoming state budget that is expected to reduce general state aid to education and specific state programs.

Among the budget cuts outlined by Hazen are:

• Dropping $1 million from the district’s reserves.
• A $1.5 million reduction in Administrative Service Center expenses—primarily personnel. Shaw said the details would be announced later this week.
• A $764,539 reduction in staffing expenses throughout the district. The equivalent of 19 full-time positions has been targeted, including hours worked by teachers and educational assistants. Hazen said that affected employees are being notified.
• Moving the $500,000 Lighted Schoolhouse program from the district’s general fund to a tax levy.
• Reducing the use of substitute teachers by $500,000 through less professional development time for the regular teaching staff.
• Saving $400,000 by moving some instruction for at-risk students away from Gateway Technical College and back to RUSD staff. Hazen noted that RUSD currently pays $800,000 in tuition on behalf of at-risk students.
• $150,000 in overtime reductions among building services employees.
• $100,000 in savings through efficiencies in the special education referral process.
• Closing all but one of the district’s four swimming pools for the summer ($80,000 savings).

Additional staff cuts are expected as administrators work to balance the budget. Hazen declined to specify how many and what types of jobs might be cut but said of the upcoming round:  “This is where the reductions are going to get painful.”

Hazen and Shaw said there has been no discussion of cuts in programs, such as athletics or music.

“We’ve tried to avoid wholesale changes in programs. But yes, there may be some efficiencies,” Shaw said.

Hazen added that staff retirements are also expected to come into play as about 80 retirements are anticipated. Because of state budget uncertainties, the district’s window for early retirements was extended from Jan. 15 to June 15. About 60 staff members have indicated that they’ll be retiring.

Hazen also suggested scheduling public hearings on the proposed budget for May 23 and June 20.

Board member Don Nielsen was frustrated when Hazen and other administrators decline to specify which positions are targeted for cuts. He said he’d heard that most elementary school guidance counselor positions would be reduced to half-time.

“I want to know on what data these decisions are based,” he said.

At the suggestion of Board President Bill Van Atta, the School Board will try to hold a work session on Thursday to discuss the budget’s impact on staffing.