The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current, May 01, 2003, Page 14, Image 14

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    Page 14 The INDEPENDENT, May 1, 2003________________________________________________________________________________________________
Reductions recommended at all levels and in most functions
From page 1
outside the district. The largest
class is the senior class, with
65 students; the smallest is first
grade with only 45 students.
Each school examined
The BAT looked at each
school in the district and at dis-
textbook adoption.
At the district level BAT rec­
ommendations include:
- Eliminate one special edu­
cation teacher with services
provided by qualified teachers
on staff, reduce expenditures
on professional services.
BAT recom m endations' at
the high school level include:
- Reduce language arts in­
struction by one half-time posi­
tion.
- Eliminate cheerleading,
and reduce athletic transporta­
tion expense.
- Eliminate two K-6 teachers
and a part-time teaching posi­
tion in the junior high.
- Reduce library/media staff
by one position.
- Reduce field trips.
Total reduction $600,000
Recommendations from the
Budget Assistance Team total
$601,110 less than the budget
adopted for the current school
year. (District $134,700, High
School $191,910, Elementary
$274,500). Projections of the
district’s total expenditures for
the 2002-2003 budget year
show that the district will have
cut more than $890,000 from
the budget adopted last June.
Therefore, the BAT recommen­
dations
represent
nearly
$200,000 less in reductions
than the district has had to en­
dure this fiscal year.
The reduced impact of the
proposed cuts is most notable
in the return to a full school
year. School is scheduled to
begin September 2 and stu­
dents will get out June 9. The
school board previously ap­
proved early release time for
students every Friday, accom­
panied by regular in-service for
staff. One full day of in-service
will occur in late September, no
school is scheduled for a
statewide in-service day in Oc­
tober (a non-paid day for teach­
ers), and two half-days are
scheduled, both associated
with student conferences in No­
vember and April. Teachers will
also have a work day at the end
of every quarter. All other non­
school days are national holi­
days, or winter and spring
breaks.
Some impact on sports
Sports programs are still
mostly intact. BAT recommends
Please see page 15
Vernonia schools’ music program will not be cut though funds will probably be reduced.
trict-wide services. First, priori­
ties were established for each
school and for district services.
Recommendations for reduc­
tions (from the 2002-2003
adopted budget) were then
identified for K-8, high school,
and district levels with consid­
eration of the established prior­
ities. As Funderburg explained
the recommended reductions, it
also became apparent that
most of reductions represent
either reductions in staff imple­
mented during the current fiscal
year, or reductions in funds his­
torically under-spent in previ­
ous years. It should also be
noted that, supporting budget
goals, increases are recom ­
mended for technology and
- Eliminate the position of
curriculum director.
- Reduce tuition reimburse­
ments for teachers and usage
of substitute teachers.
- Perform property account­
ing (needed to meet new feder­
al guidelines) in-district.
BAT recommended that two
budget areas - technology
services and textbook adop­
tions - be transferred from
school budgets to the district
level. Transferring technology
services would include that the
media coordinator position be
reduced to half-time with an in­
crease of $7,000 for equip­
ment. As previously noted, BAT
recommended an increase for
textbooks.
Delight that special lady on
Mother's bay
with a Gif t C ertif ¡cate from
Spiralz Beauty Salon
& Gift Gallery
5 0 3 -4 2 9 -8 4 8 4
112 Bridge Street * Vernonia
- Maintain current reduction
in administrative staff.
- Reduce office staff by one
person and eliminate atten­
dance clerk position.
- Reduce budgets for dra­
ma, fine arts, music, driver edu­
cation, PCC tuition for stu­
dents, activities, and field trips.
- Reduce budget for equip­
ment replacement.
At the K-8 level (including
Washington, Lincoln and Mist
Schools) BAT recommenda­
tions included:
DISCOVERY TOYS
"Your Whole C h ild is O u r Whole Business"
Products & Business Opportunities
Supporting Healthy Growth and
Development of Children
and their Families
• Toys, Books, Puzzles and Software
for all ages
• Offering Child and Specialist
Tested Educational Products
• Risk Free Guarantee, and the Best
Warranty in the Industry
• Convenient Shopping Options:
Online, Catalog or Hold a Party
• Earn Free Toys by Hosting a Party
and/or Referring Customers
• New Sales and Specials Every
Month
• Teacher and Daycare Discounts
Cam rin E y y r rrick
r ic Educa*
tional Constu ltant
Visit my website:
www discoverytoyslink com/letsgopiay
For Free Catalog, Call (503) 42 W M 7 0
D O N ’T F O R G E T
M O T H E R ’S D A Y
M A Y 1 1 th
Scappoose
Sand & Gravel Co
Gift Certificates Available
Now carrying landscape ma
terials & decorative rock.
503-543-8821
Now Open 7 Days a Week
Mon-Fri 7am-4:30pm • Sat 8am-4:30pm • Sun 10am-4pm