North Daviess schools face $300,000 in cuts

Discussion

December 21, 2009

By Tim Pinkham, T-H Correspondent The Washington Times-Herald Mon Dec 21, 2009, 10:28 PM EST

ODON — North Daviess Schools Superintendent Robert Bell expects $300,000 in state funding cuts during the next 18 months.

Bell told the North Daviess School Board Monday night he doubts whether the reduced funding will ever be restored.

A week ago today, Gov. Mitch Daniels announced state spending on public schools would be cut by $300 million over the next 18 months. This latest budget-cutting proposal was made after a new revenue forecast predicted the state treasury would receive $1.8 billion less from now through July 2011 than had previously been forecast.

The State Board of Education met Thursday to discuss how the budget reductions ordered by Daniels would be accomplished without reducing the number of classroom teachers. Two basic assumptions which will guide any state board’s recommendations are: No state tax increases and no school funding formula changes through next year.

Bell told the school board he did not know if the funding reduction would be 3 percent of the general fund or $300 per student. North Daviess has 632 students in elementary school and 463 in the junior-senior high school. A cut of $300 per student would equal a funding cut of $328,500.

Saturday morning, Loogootee Superintendent Larry Weitkamp said he expected his corporation to also see funding reduced by $300,000. However, with student enrollment dropping for several consecutive years at Loogootee, he believes the budget can be trimmed through attrition, by not replacing teachers who retire or leave for other reasons.

However, Bell said that is not an option at North Daviess, because enrollment has been steady in recent years. He said the corporation does have reserves built up in its general fund, which will be used to cover the funding cuts. The school budget has already been set through the end of the school year.

During the summer months, when the school board determines the budget for next year, Bell said tough decisions would have to be made. He said an involuntary reduction in force “is always a possibility,” but he hopes to avoid that.

In other business

Retirement

The board approved the retirement, effective today, of junior-senior high language arts teacher Janet Singleton, who has been at North Daviess for 35 years. The board also approved hiring Lori Gilham to replace her for the second semester.

School calendar

The 2010-2011 school calendar, with classes beginning Aug. 17, 2010. Christmas vacation will be from Dec. 23, 2010 to Jan. 3, 2011, with graduation set for May 27, 2011. Several snow days are built into the calendar, but if more than six are needed, Bell said the school year will be extended into June, and graduation would be moved back to June 3, 2011.

Library board

Glenda Scudder was appointed to a four-year term, beginning in January, on the Odon Winklepleck Public Library Board.

Text Only

Breaking News

Petersburg men arrested in truck wash armed robbery
An Indiana State Police investigation into the Jan. 29 armed robbery at Blue Beacon Truck Wash located near U.S. 41 and I-64 has prompted criminal charges being filed against Larry Nathaniel Davis, 26, and Branden Joe Walburn, 26, both from Petersburg. Felony warrants were issued yesterday afternoon for their arrests. At approximately 11:30 Tuesday night, Indiana State Police executed the warrants and arrested Davis and Walburn without incident.

February 8, 2012 2 Photos
2 Winslow residents arrested after home was burglarized
Indiana State Police launched a criminal investigation after receiving information earlier this month that a Winslow couple had their home burglarized and several pieces of property stolen while they were sleeping.

January 31, 2012 2 Photos
Water closes SR 358
The Indiana Department of Transportation reports Friday night that SR 358 is closed between SR 67 in Edwardsport and SR 57 in Plainville due to high water. Avoid driving into standing water.

January 27, 2012
Inmate found dead in county jail cell
The Indiana State Police Criminal Investigation Division has started a death investigation after an inmate from the Daviess County Jail was found dead.

January 26, 2012
VU student identified who died in residence hall
Vincennes University officials have identified the male student who passed away in Godare Residence Hall.

January 21, 2012
Man found dead near electric power station
Today, at 10:47AM, Indiana State Police Troopers and Sullivan County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of man found deceased on the property of the Indiana-Michigan Power Plant located at 8818 West County Road 925 North in northwestern Sullivan County. The location is approximately two and one-half miles west of the small town of Fairbanks.

January 18, 2012 1 Photo
Lady Vikings beat Rivet
Barr-Reeve girls basketball coach Mark Holt calmly walked to the locker room after the game at Ralph Holscher Gym Tuesday night.

January 17, 2012
Judge upholds school voucher law
A judge upheld Indiana’s school voucher law on Friday, rejecting opponents’ arguments that the largest such program in the nation unconstitutionally uses public money to support religion.

January 13, 2012
Child found with BB gun at Lena Dunn
For the second time in a school year, Lena Dunn Elementary School has had a student bring a BB pistol to school.

January 12, 2012
Montgomery man behind bars on drug charges
A traffic stop for an expired license plate leads to the discovery of a meth lab and leaves a Montgomery man behind bars charged with several drug charges.

January 6, 2012
More Breaking News Headlines

Breaking News

Search Results

Discussion

North Daviess schools face $300,000 in cuts

Is Mitt Romney the leading Republican presidential candidate?

Site Map

Contact Us