By Tim Pinkham
LOOGOOTEE — Proposed cuts in state funding for education could cost Loogootee School Corporation $300,000 during 2010, which is 4.5 percent of its annual budget.
Superintendent Larry Weitkamp commented upon the proposed cuts following Saturday morning’s Loogootee School Board meeting.
“Everything is speculation,” Weitkamp said, referring to the method the state will use to cut funding. He does not know if the monthly payment to the school corporation will be reduced by a certain percentage or if the state will reduce the amount paid per pupil.
Last Tuesday, Gov. Mitch Daniels announced state spending on public schools would be cut by $300 million over the next 18 months. This is the latest and most drastic budget-cutting proposal made by the governor, who is determined to keep the state’s finances from falling into a deficit.
Daniels announced the latest cuts after a new revenue forecast predicts the state treasury will take in $1.8 billion less during the next 18 months, through July 2011, than had previously been forecast.
Weitkamp expects the cut in state funds to begin in January, 2010. This will cause financial headaches for Loogootee and many other school corporations, whose budget year coincides with the school calendar and not the yearly calendar.
The superintendent said Loogootee’s budget for the second semester has already been set, and the teachers and other staff members will have to be paid.
“We have to withstand it,” Weitkamp said about the state funding cuts. “We don’t have any choice. You have to work within the funds provided. You have to make hard decisions.”
Weitkamp and the school board have tried to reduce personnel costs in recent years through attrition, rather than an involuntary reduction in force, by not replacing teachers who retire or resign, if it is feasible to do so. However, the combination of the latest funding cuts and Loogootee’s annual drop in student enrollment may force some tough decisions to be made concerning staffing for next school year. All budget decisions concerning next school year, including possible teacher layoffs, would be made during the summer by the school board, based on the recommendation of Weitkamp.
Board elections
Three of the five seats on the school board will be up for election in the May 4 primary election. Those seats are presently held by David Lingenfelter, Larry Gates and Scott Hall.
The other two members, Eric Ackerman and Tim Bradley, held at-large seats and will not be up for election until 2012.
“I’m definitely not running again,” Lingenfelter said Saturday. He wanted to make a public announcement of his intentions, so those interested in the seat could take the necessary steps to seek the office. He represents Rutherford Township.
To file for a school board seat, a person must present a petition, signed by at least 10 registered voters, to the Martin County clerk’s office from now until Feb. 19. Lingenfelter works second shift at MacAllister Machinery Co., Washington, so he is unavailable for evening meetings. About a year ago, to accommodate him, the board changed their monthly meetings from Monday night to Saturday morning, but he still missed about half the meetings. Because of his work schedule, Lingenfelter said he has been unable to attend games, musical performances and other school-related activities in the evening. He hopes the next school board member will be able to attend these events.
“I’ve enjoyed being on the school board for eight years,” Lingengelter said. “I’ve learned a lot.”
Neither Gates nor Hall indicated whether they plan to run for re-election.
However, Bradley said he does not plan to run again in 2012.
In other business
School policies
The board had the first reading of four updated school policies. Weitkamp said the proposed policies will be posted today on the school corporation’s Web site. The board will vote on the updated policies during the Jan. 16, 2010, meeting. The superintendent plans to present several updated policies each month for the board to consider the following month.
