With a $5.4 million deficit looming over the Williamsport Area School District, department heads presented plans to cut costs by reducing staff during Tuesday's school board meeting.
Proposed staff cuts at the elementary, middle and high schools, special education, and custodial, maintenance and security would save the district about $3.2 million.
Dr. Kathleen Kelley explained a wage freeze for staff would save about $1.2 million and was the option the district chose last year. But it also agreed with the wage freeze that no staff would be furloughed.
"We knew at that time it was a one-year fix," Kelley said.
With salary and benefits accounting for about 75 percent of the district's budget, the district presented the "best scenario for the board to consider," Kelley said.
The district was able to reduce the deficit from $5.4 million to $3.5 million by not replacing positions vacated by retirements, decreases in technology and school's general supplies budgets and the elimination of four administration positions.
Paul Daniels, Sheridan Elementary principal, showed a savings of $750,000 at the elementary level by reducing staff. The major savings came in the amount of $330,000 from the reduction of five classroom positions. Four and a half instructional support team members being furloughed would save about $297,000.
"It will really come down to the principals taking on some of the responsibility," Daniels said.
At the middle school level, Brandon Pardoe, Curtin Middle School principal, said he was looking to what students would better utilize in the future when making cuts.
"We are looking into the future - what is relevant in the 21st century," he said.
The district would eliminate one middle school art and one music teacher, saving a combined $132,000. Cutting three family and consumer science teachers and the program was a point of concern with board member Jane Penman.
"I'm concerned we're not going to be providing that to our students," she said.
Pardoe said the skills learned in that subject could be mixed into other courses, as seen fit.
"(Nutrition's) something that can be laid into the health and (physical education) component," he said.
"I'm concerned at the narrowing of the curriculum at the middle school level," Penman said.
Michael Reed, high school principal, showed a savings of $567,500 by reducing the world language department by 1.5 teachers and cutting family consumer science and health and physical education by two members each, among other cuts.
With reductions, the high school would create additional positions in math, English and science.
Kelley was quick to point out that just because a position is being cut, doesn't mean the person in that position will be furloughed. Reed said 75 percent of those in positions that are being reduced are qualified for positions left vacant from retirements.
Special Education proposed the elimination of 13 full-time and part-time employees each - saving the district $899,000. Custodial, maintenance and security was cut by 8.5 positions.
To make up the remaining deficit, the district presented two options to the board. The first would be to raise taxes to the index - .339 mills - and use retirement reserve to create about $687,000. The district also could use property tax exceptions they have filed for to raise them to .69 mills - raising a little more than $1 million.
"We don't know how this will all shake out," Kelley said.
The board commended the district for looking at cuts not just to save money, but for restructured programs.
"I think we need to find creative ways to cut costs," said board member David Stone Jr.
Stone also said with reduced state funding, "We simply don't have the resources."
Board President Lori Baer said that the same difficulties the district is having, others around the state are, as well.
"This is not just our reality, but every school district in the state," she said.
"This is not done lightly," said Kelley, "... These are extremely difficult times and I've lost a lot of sleep over this."
The board is expected to vote on what actions to take when balancing the budget at its next meeting in the district service center at 6 p.m. Feb. 21.
