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School budget cuts OK'd

JANESVILLE — The Janesville School Board on Tuesday night approved nearly all of the budget cuts and additions recommended by Superintendent Karen Schulte.

The action settled a variety of questions but not the bottom line on school property taxes or even the 2009-10 budget.

The cuts included the position of district athletics director. The high school athletics directors, with extra clerical help, will take over those duties.

The high school ADs also are assistant principals.

The board extended the hours of three athletic-director secretaries to include the summer months.

One item on Schulte's list the board rejected was adding six custodians. The custodians were meant to handle the added square footage at the newly expanded high schools.

The question of whether or not to add custodians remains, however. The board apparently wants to wait for a report from district personnel who recently visited schools in Florida to learn how to better deploy custodians to save on positions.

The only other item the board rejected was the creation of a contingency fund that would cover two teaching positions in the event they are needed next school year.

Only board member Peggy Sheridan supported the contingency fund.

Those teachers could still be hired, if needed, but the money would come from the district's undesignated operating fund balance.

Board member Diedre Richard said eliminating the contingency fund would force the administration to be creative in filling its needs.

Board member Kevin Murray argued for keeping Athletic Director Kevin Porter's position.

Porter has frequent contact with students, and he could work on starting new intramural programs with the newly expanded high school facilities, Murray argued.

Board member Tim Cullen said the high school and middle school athletics directors together with Porter's wages combined come to about $377,000, more than all the salaries of all the coaches.

Eliminating Porter's position saved $113,000 in salary and benefits.

Murray and board member Greg Ardrey were the only votes to keep the athletics director position.

When all the cuts and additions were totaled, the net budget savings was about $423,000.

The final word on the 2009-10 budget won't come for weeks if not months. Still not decided is salary and benefits for teachers. Negotiations on the teachers contract begin Tuesday, May 19.

Some board members also voiced worry that the state's desperate budget situation may mean a reduction in school aids, which could mean more cuts would be needed.

"We may be back at this again," said board President DuWayne Severson.

Approved cuts

The Janesville School Board on Tuesday approved these cuts to the 2009-10 budget:

-- A special-education teacher, $57,859.

-- The salary but not the position of director of student services, $168,000. Karen Schulte will hold down this post in addition to her superintendent duties.

-- The manager of buildings and grounds, $119,000.

-- A central-office clerical position, $45,400.

-- District athletics director, $113,000.

-- A temporary wage freeze for non-union employees, $286,000.

-- The coordinator of math, science and staff development, who is retiring, $119,000.

The board approved these new positions:

-- Two new teachers for the TAGOS Leadership Academy, $115,718, to be funded by a student-run business.

-- A Title 1 teacher for Wilson School, $57,859.

-- Increasing the hours of the athletics director secretaries, $18,241.

-- Four elementary librarians, $138,196.

-- A half-time teacher for the Janesville Virtual Academy, if enough students from other districts sign up to justify it, $28,929.

-- A computer help-desk technician, $62,000.

-- A computer technician, $64,500.