WJCC Superintendent Shares $7.5M Shortfall, Potential Budget Cuts with Board

By Amber Lester Kennedy Sunday, January 15, 2012

Williamsburg-James City County Schools Superintendent Steven Constantino made one thing clear as he presented his list of potential budget cuts at a school board retreat Saturday: Everything is on the table.

Constantino said his list included anything and everything that his staff could think of trimming, but even if every cut was approved, the cuts were shy of the projected shortfall of $7.5 million (closer to $6.5 million if some money was reallocated). Potential cuts included support and teaching positions, middle school athletics, the AVID program, pre-K and the student advancement coaches.

“One message is that we will not go forward having everything everybody wants anymore, I can promise you that,” Constantino said.

For fiscal year 2012, the division expects revenue to decrease by $1.5 million, if Williamsburg and James City County offer no increases in funding. The division’s costs are expected to increase by $6 million. Gov. Bob McDonnell has called for employers to make increased contributions to the Virginia Retirement System, which will cost the division an additional $4.3 million. Health insurance costs will also increase an estimated $700,000. Finally, another $1 million in increased costs is expected. Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Scott Burckbuchler has called the shortfall “unprecedented.”

At the meeting, Burckbuchler and Constantino presented a list of 21 possible staffing and programmatic changes that could be implemented to save money or increase revenue. Constantino cautioned that some of the cuts were included to gauge the school board’s reactions and to show that “we looked under every rock.”

Staffing Reduction Proposals

In previous budget cycles, WJCC has been able to avoid making cuts to teaching positions, but that might not be the case in the next budget. Constantino floated four possible changes that could impact instructional staffing levels.

First, the division could increase its student-to-teacher ratios and classroom student caps by one student for every classroom at every grade level. That change would result in the loss of seven full-time elementary teaching positions, eight middle school teachers and nine high school teachers, for a total savings of $1.7 million.

Second, the division could increase its ratios and caps in middle and high schools to the minimum required by the state. In sixth and seventh grades, the state requires classes have no more than 35 students; after seventh grade, the state has no cap requirements. By contrast, the division’s target ratios for middle and high schools are 18 to 19 students per classroom. An increase in secondary class sizes could result in the loss of 21 middle school teachers and 18 high school teachers, for a savings of $2.8 million.

Third, the division could increase its elementary ratios and caps to the minimum required by the state. The state caps kindergarten classes at 29 students; first, second and third grade classes at 30 students; and fourth and fifth grade classes at 35 students. That change would result in the loss of 34 elementary school teaching positions, for a savings of $2.5 million.

Finally, the board could opt to establish elementary grade student-to-teacher ratios at 24:1, capping classes at 28 students. That would result in the cut of 21 teachers, and a savings of $1.5 million.

Constantino also said the division could reduce or eliminate its teacher assistant positions at the elementary level. The division employs 83 full-time teacher assistants for $2.3 million; their average salary is $18,000, but with health benefis and VRS contributions, they cost the division $31,700 on average.

If the board opted to reduce the teacher assistants by two per schools, it would save $571,000; by three, it would save $855,900; by four, it would save $1.1 million; and by five, it would save $1.4 million.

Constantino’s list of possible cuts also included three middle school math specialists; three high school reading specialists; four practical nursing teachers at Lafayette High; 12 instructional technology teachers; 33 pre-K positions; nine elementary computer resource teachers; 10 full-time gifted program positions; three elementary art teachers; three elementary music teachers; three elementary physical education teachers; six elementary and middle school math specialist positions; nine elementary student support teachers; three Response to Intervention specialists; six student advancement coaches; three high school guidance office assistant positions; nine elementary school receptionist support positions; and five clinic assistant positions. If all of those reductions were approved, WJCC would save about $6.7 million.

Nurse positions could be cut so that nurses would possibly rotate through the schools, rather than have one nurse for each school in the division; reductions to nurses could save $66,000 per position. School board member Ruth Larson expressed concern about that cut, noting that with increasing cases of severe allergies, asthma and adolescent diabetes, nurses are needed now more than ever.

At the central office, four clerical/support positions could be cut, for a savings of $175,000. In the past three years, WJCC cut 34.5 administrative and support positions.

Additional savings could be found if the division opted to reduce the contract period from 12 to 11 months for assistant principals, custodians, building techs and high school data entry, registrar and receptionist positions. To accomplish that reduction, work that typically occurs in July would have to be deferred. Employee pay reductions would save the division $351,800.

As the division has for the last two years, WJCC would also consider offering an Employee Retirement Incentive Program. To apply for the program, employees would have to be full-time and eligible for unreduced retirement benefits from VRS no later than July 1. Approved applicants would receive a one-time payment in the gross amount of 15 percent of their contracted salary, plus any applicable longevity payments for the current school year.

The board's newest member, Heather Cordasco, floated the idea of offering employees the choice between layoffs or taking paycuts across the board, saying she thought people would prefer the latter. Constantino disagreed, saying he will not propose paycuts because his last district, in Cobb County, Ga., did that and it was detrimental to morale. He said it only made it worse when the division eventually had to do layoffs after all.

Possible Program Changes

Constantino’s list included several program changes, ranging from reducing or eliminating pre-K to scaling the high school schedules back to six-period days.

The division’s pre-K program serves 350 students, but not all services are required. WJCC could consider only offering services to 4-year-olds, reducing its number of sites or reducing teachers. Cordasco said she didn’t believe pre-K is necessary for students who aren’t considered at-risk. Elise Emanuel said research has shown that early preparation leads to greater success later.

“I would hate to see that program wiped out,” she said. “It would be a tragedy for our community and a tragedy for our schools.”

The division currently schedules more school days than the state requires, partially because it allows the cancellation of school for inclement weather without having to make up days. Constantino did suggest, however, the division could reduce its school days, which would save $25,330 per reduced day in bus driver pay and utilities.

He suggested eliminating the AVID program, which helps prepare middle-achieving students for college, but said he’d like to continue to use the program’s elements and lessons. He also said eliminating the acclaimed International Baccalaureate program at James River Elementary could save $180,000, but board members immediately said they couldn’t support cuts to that program.

He said the division could eliminate or restructure its existing summer school program, which is currently offered at every school level. The state provides approximately $200,000 for the program, and $50,000 is additionally received through tuitions.

Constantino also proposed cutting middle school athletics, but alternatively said the division could also institute a co-curricular activities participation fee for middle and high school students. The fee would likely be around $100 per student. He also suggesting performing a review of athletic and academic coaching and sponsor stipends.

The division could also alter its high school schedule so that students only take six classes a day. Currently, the division has more stringent diploma requirements than required by the state. School board members balked at the idea of radical high school schedule changes, however.

Constantino also suggested cutting funding that pays for teachers to be reimbursed for tuition and for students to take Advanced Placement, Career and Technical and PSAT exams.

Transportation services could be reduced, cutting some bus runs for older students or eliminating bus service for pre-K students who do not have special needs. Compulsory attendance guidelines in Virginia law would not allow bus runs to be eliminated for high school students.

Virginia Code would allow the division to create Non-Transportation Zones (NTZ) for students ages 10-17. In those zones, students would have to walk farther to bus stops, up to 2.5 miles away. Creating non-transportation zones could eliminate seven bus runs. In a memo, Transportation Director Earl Tyler said the division would have to complete a thorough review of bus usage to establish a list of “required” usages compared to “nice to have” usages.

The board will host a public hearing on the budget at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Building F of the County Complex on Mounts Bay Road in James City County.

To see Constantino’s full budget reductions presentation, click here.