DCSD cuts jobs, eliminates programs due to over staffing
- 5/2/12
- Categorized in: DeKalb News, Education
The DeKalb County School Board voted April 27 to cut 133 jobs, a move school officials say will save the district $9.3 million.
Additionally, the district has implemented cost-saving measures by reducing teachers’ salaries by 6.25 percent. District spokesman Walter Woods said the reduction has been written into the teacher contracts in past years but the board always restores the reductions.
“Every year we send out the same contract and we put in the 6.25 salary decrease,” Woods said. “Nothing is new this year.”
Woods said the board would decide whether to restore the salary levels after the budget process is completed. The budget was originally slated to come before the board in April but has been delayed because of an anticipated shortfall in revenue.
The cuts are the result of a district-wide analysis Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson tasked officials with earlier this month and represent less than 2 percent of the DeKalb County School District’s (DCSD) entire workforce.
Tekshia Ward-Smith, chief human resources officer for DCSD said in past years the district based school staffing on the number of contracts given out rather than on the actual allotment for each school. However, Ward-Smith said that will change for the 2012-13 school year.
“The superintendent has developed a needs-based budgeting approach to determine the actual student-based needs of local schools and the school district as a whole. The resulting data to date has shown funds available to the classrooms can be maximized by addressing overstaffing and program elimination,” Ward-Smith said.
Officials said the cuts fall into two categories: school-based overages and program elimination. Ward-Smith said the district has identified 96 school employees, with an average salary of $70,000, will be cut due to overstaffing. This will save the district approximately $6.7 million.
“Any school-based employee identified in a position that is proposed for elimination will be eligible to seek a teacher contract in another content area should such a vacancy, due to teacher attrition, become available,” Ward-Smith said.
Ward-Smith said the school-based cuts were determined by assessing each employee’s professional expertise and certifications, performance and seniority.
Under the program elimination category 37 graduation coaches and specialists, who receive an average salary of $70,000, who will be cut. Ward-Smith said the reason for eliminating these positions is because originally, the salaries were paid by a state grant.
“Five or six years ago the governor gave us money and a dropout prevention grant whereby graduation coaches were placed within schools. That was a program that was funded by the governor up until about three years ago,” Ward-Smith said. “Through the restructuring we’re going to be able to absorb some of the tasks and responsibilities that those individuals currently perform.”
Ward-Smith said the elimination of graduation coaches and specialists will save the district approximately $2.6 million. Like the school-based employees, those whose positions were eliminated will be eligible to apply for another teaching job within the district as long as they are certified.
Officials said the cuts are coming now because May 15 is the latest the district can inform employees their contracts will not be renewed, due to state mandates. Ward-Smith said all those affected by the cuts will receive notification by May 11.
“We’re hoping to be able to absorb a lot of these particular individuals through natural attrition in the district,” Atkinson said.
Woods said each year approximately 200 teachers retire or leave the district for various reasons, and officials hoped the positions will be able to be filled by the 133 employees.
“We looked at this very clearly based on student allotment–exactly what we do need–and we made sure that these needs were covered by other individuals,” Woods said.
Board member Don McChesney pointed out that even if those 133 individuals did manage to obtain another contract from the district due to attrition, it would still be an entirely different position and salary range.
“This is not a pleasant thing, but overstaffed is overstaffed, and we’ve got to move on it. A lot of this started because of what is now an unfunded mandate by the state,” McChesney said. “I hope in the future as these items come up—because I know they will from time to time—that we can [tell] the board this was an item originally started under a state mandate that has now fallen [to us].”
Remember, that both gifted students and EIP students have their own federal and state money. That money must be spent on the education of those specific kids. DeKalb can't just spend the money for each gifted child somewhere else. They would risk losing the money altogether.
Honestly, if we didn't school choice, I would probably move. It keeps me in the county paying my property taxes. DeKalb doesn't spend any more per student from the DeKalb taxes on Kittredge students ( as well as any of the other magnet programs.) The extra funds comes from the state and federal tax dollars that goes to fund gifted programs.
Gifted kids can become MAJOR behavior problems if they are bored silly in the classroom in much the same way as a student who struggles in the classroom.
To relieve some of the pressure I volunteer to give the teachers back the precious minutes in the classroom, however there are so many other concerns in the classroom.
Im amazed we continue to fund schools such as "Kittredege" and also to have several gifted classrooms when early intervention (EIP) have half the amount of classsrooms in comparison.
I agree we should offer something (enrichment) to high achievers but how do we continue to justify spending public dollars when only 1% of the county's children benefit and by a lottery system?
These "high achieving" schools and programs should be shut down and yes I agree the central office should be cut for good!
This being said, I implore the DeKalb County Board of Education and Superintendent to find solutions to their financial mess than cutting arts and other classroom positions. Our children need their teachers, and they also need a well-rounded curriculum inclusive of the arts.
A Citizen for the Arts and Education in DeKalb
I am an arts specialist in DCSD, and several of my colleagues and I received "delay of contract" letters to our total shock and dismay. The letter was two sentences long with no explaination whatsoever as to why we have not received contracts. This is highly distressing as many of us are experienced teachers who have worked above and beyond what is required of us by the district. We are experts in our respective crafts (dance, drama, music, art, etc.) and are dedicated to educating young people. Is this a foreshadowing of what's to come for arts education in DeKalb? Is the district beginning a phase out of arts programs in the schools?
DeKalb School District's actions are devastating. At this point, there are no answers for us. The only thing we've heard is that DCSD will inform us of our employment status in two weeks. This is stressful, disheartening, and demoralizing to say the least. This is also a grave disservice to the students of DeKalb who benefit academically, emotionally, and developmentally from regular arts experiences (just look at the moutain of educational/developmental, brain, and scientific research that hail the advantages of arts education for children).
DeKalb School District's response to its financial crisis is typical with its rush to cut arts positions. Please, please, please ADVOCATE FOR ARTS EDUCATORS in DeKalb School District. Our jobs are on the line, arts education is at stake, and we NEED YOUR SUPPORT!
Anonymously,
A Concerned Arts Educator
Unfortunately most citizens are asking for staffing reductions throughout the district. The greatest number of reductions will be in the central office however it is hoped that due to annual attrition, many of those will find other jobs albeit at lower salaries.
The reality is that expenses are continuing to rise while property tax income continues to fall. I don't envy the BOE and superintendent in making the tough decisions that have to be made.
It's a shame that decisions like cutting teachers are based on numbers and not on "the human factor". Some great teachers who truly improve the community are on the chopping block, including teachers in our German program,...a program that has been recognized as one of the best language programs in the state. The German program at Chamblee has recently been designated as a PASCH program, ...which designates our school as producing high-acheiving students that are practically fluent in the German language, ready to be hired by German companies in Georgia, or attend school in Germany (our German program also allows the students to pass the DSD2 exam, which awards a diploma to our students allowing them to attend university in Germany).