BOE: Programs, sports may see cuts
Published on -4/21/2009, 12:34 PM
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By RYAN CHRISTNER
Those hoping Monday night's Hays USD 489 Board of Education meeting would answer questions regarding where district reductions to address declining funding will come from will have to wait a little while longer.
After spending the bulk of the two-hour meeting debating the proper course of action, board members -- some begrudgingly -- approved a plan to schedule work sessions to take a closer look at all non-state or federally mandated elective and extra-curricular programs and activities.
"I think our No. 1 concern needs to be the academic progress of our students," Judy Nixon said. "We have a lot of non-academic programs and, as an educator, I'm sorry, but my No. 1 priority is academic programs. If we have to look at making cuts, we should look at making cuts in non-academic programs first."
Discussion of possible reductions in areas throughout the district was in response to what appeared to be the board's reluctance to vote on eliminating the summer school program at the end of the school year, despite a recommendation by administration that included that cut as one of the items to make up for a $300,000 deficit in the budget for fiscal year 2010.
Eliminating summer school, Nixon said, would put at-risk students even more at risk and negatively would affect state assessment scores.
"That's right, but I'm telling you you don't have any choice," Superintendent Fred Kaufman said in response. "Right now, I don't see how we can fund summer school."
Math, reading and, to an extent, science classes are federally mandated through the No Child Left Behind Act, and there are several other areas of the curriculum that are necessary in order for the district to continue to receive funding.
Anything else will be brought to the board for consideration when it meets in the upcoming work sessions.
Some of the items to be discussed include sports, music, arts and theater programs, as well as district library and counselor services.
"These education ideas are the forefront of what we're trying to do here, and to accomplish that, we need to put everything on the table," Greg Schwartz said.
One other possible source that could be reduced in order to meet the budget shortfall are supplemental contracts for coaches and extended personnel.
Kaufman said the district could save approximately $37,000 if those contracts were reduced by 10 percent.
"I'm not suggesting that we eliminate any programs," he said. "I think we can do that by eliminating the number of assistants."
That would make up the bulk of the $60,000 cost of summer school, if that program was left afloat.
"When we're looking at budget cuts, from my perspective, these are some good areas to look at because they're extras," Schwartz said of the contracts.
During the work sessions, board members are expected to hear from individual school administrators who, with the help of district administration, will create prioritized lists of their programs that are not mandated by either the state or the federal government.
In other business, the board passed a resolution to continue a no-fund warrant that would allow the district to borrow $300,000 to purchase new math and reading textbooks and pay the money back by levying a tax during the next three years.
The district still is under the effects of a previous no-fund warrant, approved in 2004, so residents would not see a rise in their property taxes from the no-fund warrant. The only change would have been if the measure was rejected, in which case the district mill levy would have been reduced by about 0.351 mills, or approximately $4 per year on a $100,000 home, Assistant Superintendent of Finance Richard Cain said.
"It won't be any better next year, and probably not the year after," Kaufman said. "If we don't do it, we're just into that cycle where all of a sudden we're using old materials.
"This is something we can do to keep ourselves current."
The board also approved an architectural contract for the new Hays High School fitness and strength training facility, which is being paid for entirely through private donations.
Everyone keeps complaining that the new football coach is getting paid too much money. Give the guy a break he could have taken jobs elsewhere and probably for more money. Blame the BOE and administration they are the ones that offered that much money. Also it would be nice if people are going to comment on here they have some clue of how school systems work.
(Posted by: )
programs: 4/24/2009
If you don't think sports programs benefit kids academically you're crazy. There are many many kids who only stay in school and only maintain passing grades because they want to be eligible to play sports. Take that away, and watch the dropout rate and graduation rate drop immediately.
(Posted by: )
Programs: 4/23/2009
The reason that sports programs are so often brought up as a potential budget cut is twofold: First, sports programs, while they do bring in more money than most arts programs, also suck up a lot of money with unnecessary purchases (i.e. new uniforms and equipment, when the old ones don't really need to be replaced). Second, because the programs that actually do tend to get cut - arts, music, theatre - are programs that actually BENEFIT children academically (there have been hundreds of studies that prove this point), even if they don't bring in a lot of profit. As such, those arts programs are also made to make do with old, run-down, occasionally unsafe equipment and materials (banged up band instruments, wood for theatre sets that has been used so many times the paint is 2 inches thick and the wood is rotting, costumes that are moth-eaten and occasionally mildewy due to lack of proper storage facilities, power tools with fraying cords, etc) simply because "they still work". So, while I understand that sports programs bring in more money, I still feel that the programs that should avoid being cut are the ones that truly benefit our students academically. The bottom line is this: Our students are in school to get the best education possible, not to develop "teamwork" and make a buck.
(Posted by: A former student athlete and theatre nerd)
Stop the moaning and groaning!: 4/23/2009
Here’s a little fact for all of you moaning and groaning about the new weight facility. Most of you probably do not know but after the facility is built, it will help fund $150,000 over 2 years in the general fund that “PAYS” teacher salaries. Yes, it will help benefit all teachers! If you don’t want to take my word for it, speak to any member of the Build F.A.S.T. project.
(Posted by: Future HHS Football Mom)
Cutting funds: 4/22/2009
How about starting the salary cut with Kaufman, He's paid to sit at the head of the table to condone these stupid decisions. Don't cut acadamics, teachers salaries. Like I said start cutting the salary with the real problem, then work the way down the board. They are brainwashed.
(Posted by: concerned father)
Another thought: 4/22/2009
Why are we cutting summer school but allowing students to lift weights during the summer for free while the new coach is being paid a large salary to "instruct" those students during that time? There are several good weight lifting facilities in Hays that students who are truly interested in bettering themselves physically could use if the summer weight program was cut. I guess I really don't understand our thinking.
(Posted by: HHS Alum)
Activities: 4/22/2009
Kurt Warner...there's your role mode. Now let's see your list of 100.
(Posted by: )
$$: 4/22/2009
In response to "many people forget about the money major athletics bring in. The gate for those events will provide money to the activity fund for all activities. This comment was in response to comments about people complaining back and forth about athletic events vs other extra curricular activities (Posted by: coach from another town)" How many people would have to come to all home games to pay for the rent of Lewis Field, the referees, the ticket takers, the score/time keeper, the chain gang, the coaches, etc. etc. It would be interesting to see how much money those "major" sports are generating for the rest of us.
(Posted by: meta cognition)
Budget cuts: 4/22/2009
Anyone in Education knows how important the Para's are and if you are suggesting that the number of Para's be reduced then you should go and observe for yourself the amout of work they do. My question is why do we have so many administrators at the High School. Maybe those administrators should be doing their work during the day instead of going out and working out playing basketball? This is the area that needs the cuts, this doesn't hinder the education of the kids but cutting the jobs where the people work directly with the kids do.
(Posted by: A Parent and Educator)
: 4/22/2009
I challenge the people who think para's are not needed to spend one week doing their job. Most of the paras work with challenged children. Tell me why electives can't be paid for by parents. Scholarships from private donations could be used for those who need assistance. Cutting some salaries at the top and in electives make more sense. Auto makers did it. How about instead of fighting we look for solutions
(Posted by: tired of the fighting )
Re- Activities: 4/22/2009
Our point exactly, Let the parents/fans pay for sports and the tax payer will be happy to pay for academics. and if a few parents move their kids out of the district just so they can play games for free - let them go, Show me one major athlete that is truely a role model and I'll show you 100 that are rapists, thugs, drugies need I go on?
(Posted by: )
cuts & critics: 4/22/2009
It is interesting to read about all of the budget "experts" on this forum and the great idea's they have to solve the problem. Sports is always thrown out there not because reducing in this area will actually save much money, because that will save peanuts, but if you cut enough in that area, parents will move students to other schools that still offer quality programs so you lose money from enrollment. Sports is used because it is so political because of the importance and attention it gets in any community. The people you yell to cut sports are always, always the people who obviously never played or are ignorant to the fact of how important coaches and sports positively impact the academic arena. I know my students would leave this district (and they make good grades) if sports were not offered or reduced to a level where quality was hurt. Yes, there is plenty of areas to look at cuts in the budget, but people who were REALLY concerned should have voted yes to the LOB increase so these nasty cuts now being talked about wouldn't have to happen.
(Posted by: Concerned parent)
activities: 4/22/2009
many people forget about the money major athletics bring in. The gate for those events will provide money to the activity fund for all activities. This comment was in response to comments about people complaining back and forth about athletic events vs other extra curricular activities
(Posted by: coach from another town)
boo-hoo: 4/21/2009
Before the LOB vote, several people on this website chanted that "Fred needs to tighten his belt, cut this, cut that". The local yocals voted agains funding education and now Fred is cutting. He said he would because the district has to work within it's budget. Asst coaches?...please, all of them together in the entire district don't make enough money to take care of this deficit.
(Posted by: voted yes)
Education funding?: 4/21/2009
Education must be our top priority. I have moved five children into Hays schools and coach in the community. I would gladly coach for free (I've been doing it for years). The salaries paid to a select few in the coaching ranks is disheartening and completely out of line. Bring the salaries of those high dollar coaches back to earth...there is a significant amount of money to go toward the "funding of education in Hays".
(Posted by: Michael)
Cuts at USD 489: 4/21/2009
I like how the mentality changes when budget cuts are irst things the sports people want to cut is Music, Theatre, Debate, and other great programs. All because Sports builds so much better character? Look at all of the great role models Sports gives, dopers, cheaters, thugs who carry guns to protect themselves. Every Department should share equally in the cuts, if it means playing less football, basketball or baseball games so be it. They cost as much money if not more to the District as Music Forensics. Lets tighten the belts all the way through the District Programs, not just a select few non-sports ones.
(Posted by: USD 489 Taxpayer)
$70,000 for ONE COACH???: 4/21/2009
No money for acedemics? How about using that big chunk of change that's going to the new Football coach. Isn't $70K a bit much for a coach and weights teacher? Where are the priorities in this district?
(Posted by: New to Hays and disappointed)
BOE: 4/21/2009
Cut, slash, chop. Start with administrators, address the salaries of those left standing, then turn and face the athletics behemoth and slay it, too. The hearts and minds of those who say "But we can't do that!" will follow.
(Posted by: Seen it work elsewhere)
Help is needed: 4/21/2009
Sports should never take the place of academics though it does in USD 489. A parent was quoted as saying that "winning cures a lot of ills." I believe that providing a world class education will cure more ills than winning a football game. Please bring a real education back into the district where children will be prepared to compete in a global community. It will take a committed administration and school board to get this accomplished. Does education have a chance of improving in Hays?
(Posted by: Resigned)
In Response to Paras: 4/21/2009
You obviously have never spent time in an elementary school before. Paras are an essential to our schools, especially since more and more children are being diagnosed with developmental disabilities and most of these children require one on one attention. Most of the paras that I work with do in fact have a post secondary degree or are working on one. The budget is definitely screwed up right now but cutting paras is not the way to fix it because that would only hurt your children in the long run!!
(Posted by: )
Asst coaches: 4/21/2009
It is about time they started to look at eliminating assistant coaches vs. teachers. Where are our priorities?
(Posted by: a parent)
CUTTING SUMMER SCHOOL: 4/21/2009
You can't cut summer school,what about the stupid kids??
(Posted by: Scott)
Cut this: 4/21/2009
Department heads and QPA chairs in the district. By cutting this, teachers keep there jobs and all programs can possibly be salvaged. They might want to look at this. Other schools don't pay their teachers to be a dept head(some do & some don't). I would say if you are in education this should be something to be expected by the teachers to just take these things over in the departments they are in.
(Posted by: )
Funding: 4/21/2009
Cut the strenght training facility. Even if "private donations" are funding, where are they going to get the money to maintain the facility. Start with the three vice principals at HHS, salary of Kaufman, new board members (Schumacher), and what about other soft courses at HHS.
(Posted by: Cory)
Para's???: 4/21/2009
Why do we have all of the Para's employed in the district. I think we could do without all the EXTRA help. Many of these people don't have a post-secondary education, yet are allowed to help teach our children. I know you get by cheaper with them versus a person with a degree, some may have a degree, and that's great, but the ones who don't should. How many people of authority do we need in a classroom anyway? I think one teacher is enough. Do these people work at school because they are the best qualified and want to help our children, or is it a job they want to be in school to see their own children?
(Posted by: More or less???)
Board members: 4/21/2009
I meant to say in my thread that those 3 (Schwarts, Schumacher & Nixon) DON'T believe the professional recommendation of our 3 supts!!! Unbelievable
(Posted by: Concerned citizen)
cuts??? : 4/21/2009
I can't believe an FHSU professor and one that is in the education department wants to look at cutting other areas that are in the realm of electives. Of all people, especially one that teaches future educators -- she should know the value of electives such as band, art, auto mechanics, vo-ag, ffa, art, graphic arts, channel 13, fbla, fccla, choir, theater, etc.. . She should also know that athletics are an extension of the classroom and just as important to our kids. I personally know how athletics can affect our kids' education for the positive (both academically and athletically). Many times the only reason a kid is playing a sport is because they are keeping there grades up in the classroom -- this in turn helps them academically by being involved.
(Posted by: get real guys? )
Here's something to kick around: 4/21/2009
The Hays daily should research which of the board members have sons/daughters in the 489 district. From what I've gathered, this is not the case for Schwartz. Schumacher is a TMP grad, what is the reason for being on the 489 board -- I really think we have some hidden agendas here and Schumacher can't do anything w/out Schwartz leading him along. These meetings are absurd when you watch them.
(Posted by: hmmm??)
: 4/21/2009
A lot of the B.O.E members have kids that are heavy into sports, that's why they will never cut or even charge to play sports. Their whole identity is based on how many games their kids can win.
(Posted by: )
Board members: 4/21/2009
I can't believe Schwartz. He wants to question everything. I can't believe our other board members didn't vote his motion down. Basically what him, Schumacher & Nixon are saying is that they do believe the professional and educated recommendation of the 3 superintendents, and I'm sure they spent many hours looking at this, the budget, staff, extracurriculars & programs to advise the best scenario for all people involved (yes kids -- but unlike others, they too keep the best interest of the teachers in mind). Those 3 board members should be ashamed
(Posted by: Concerned citizen)
Electives vs summer school: 4/21/2009
They want to look at electives to possibly cut. Were do you begin? Do they not realize that a student has to have anywhere from 6-8 electives to graduate from High School. Many students only walk through the doors each and every day of high school simply for these elective offerings. If they cut these, they better be prepared for higher dropout rates, and lower graduation rates and that will look poorly on the Hays district.
(Posted by: Also in Education)
Budget: 4/21/2009
The HHS fitness facility may be being constructed through "private donations", but who is going to pay to maintain the building. I think that people have their priorities extremely messed up. I find it absolutely crazy that people are willing to throw hundreds of thousands of dollars into athletics and allow academics to be cut.
(Posted by: Concerned parent and educator!!)
Money and How to Make it: 4/21/2009
Legalize Marijuana... Nobody cares that Health Care for Minors is being funded by Tobacco.. So why not Legalize the Funky Green and help these kids continue to get an education
(Posted by: USA=NWO)
cuts in education: 4/21/2009
Why do they need a new facility for fitness and strength training? It is one of those things the new coach probably asked for and got. He seems to get everything else he wants. Eliminate football - they don't win much anyway, and then you'd have enough for everything else!!! Talk about a waste of money in the education system everywhere!
(Posted by: bjm)
Strength Training facilty funding: 4/21/2009
If the HHS fitness and strength training facility is so important to "private donators", why don't they also pay for the new coach's salary? That would make a HUGE dent in the general fund! The thought that we will have to cut music, art, theater, COUNSELING and many other items is crazy!!!
(Posted by: Hays Father of Three)
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