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Point School Board moves toward cuts

By CHRIS RANDAZZO
of The Gazette
The Stevens Point Area Public School Board came a step closer to identifying possible budget cuts when it met Monday, July 23.

The board approved the criteria it will use to determine which programs would be cut, should cuts become necessary. The district is facing estimated budget deficits of $3.8 million for the 2002-2003 school year and $5.4 million for the 2003-2004 school year.

The criteria will be used to put programs into "mandated," "must have," "should have" and nice to have categories." Additional criteria considered will include the affect a cut would have on class size, the number of students affected by a cut and repercussions and liabilities the district would face by making a cut. The additional criteria will be used to help board members decide which category a program belongs in.

The board approved the cuts 7-1 with board vice president Mary Thurmaier as the only dissenter. "I don't think this (the criteria) is going to accomplish (our goals)," Thurmaier said.

Thurmaier said she felt that philosophical differences among board members would prevent them from being able to reach a consensus on which category a particular program belongs in. She also questioned the usefulness of the additional criteria. "How am I supposed to determine how many children this (program) is going to affect," she said.

Andrea Spears, a sixth-grade teacher at Plover-Whiting Elementary School lambasted the board over its proposed cuts. She said she was "livid" over the board's talk of cutting programs. Spears, who has been teaching at Plover-Whiting for 16 years, said that the district's curriculum has evolved over time and that every program in place is there because it is necessary.

"The thing that really upsets me is that there is no vision in this board," Spears said. She added that by making program cuts the board would be moving backward instead of forward.

The board will meet in a special session on Tuesday, Aug. 7, to put programs into the different categories.

Talks of drastic program cuts may be a bit premature however, as board president Ray Haas said the district hopes to get a $3.1 million operating referendum passed for the 2002-2003 school year and a $4.8 million referendum passed for the 2003-2004 school year.

Haas said that if the board could get those referendums passed, it would have to make cuts of $800,000 for the 2002-2003 school year and $600,000 for the 2003-2004 school year in order to keep the tax levy the same as in 2001-2002.

The board also approved, 5-3, five early-release days for the elementary schools for the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 school years at its meeting. Previously the board had voted against early-release days in a dispute over raising the number of days from five to six.

Early-release days involve elementary students being dismissed before the scheduled time, giving teachers time to work together to coordinate and plan lessons and programs.

Spears addressed the board on the subject of release days. She said that since teachers usually only get about a .008 percent pay increase whereas other employees often see a .03 percent increase the extra release days seem reasonable.

She said that elementary teachers far exceed the state-mandated amount of face-to face student contact. "Having nine or 10 days is not a big deal. Six days is not a big deal. Maybe we can get one day," Spears said.

Spears said she was particularly upset about board member Jim Harmon's remarks at the July 9 board meeting because she said 99 percent of teachers already work more than 40 hours a week. Harmon had suggested that teachers should meet on their own time.

"Having offended many, I apologize," Harmon said. "My comments were not intended to offend."

However, he still voted against having any early-release days. "I do not object to the activities that go on in early release days, I just think they could be done more efficiently," he said.

Harmon suggested possibly changing to two or three full-days off. Board member Elmer Fournier said he was also against the early-release days because of the extra burden they put on working families who must find extra child-care because of the half days.

Board president Ray Haas also voted against having early-release days.
Many board members felt the days were beneficial. "Time for elementary teachers to work together and plan is very important," said Thurmaier. "I think it's quite beneficial to the teachers and beneficial to the kids."



	Point School Board moves toward cuts By CHRIS RANDAZZO of The Gazette The Stevens Point Area Public School Board came a step closer to identifying possible budget cuts when it met Monday, July 23. The board approved the criteria it will use to determine which programs would be cut, should cuts become necessary. The district is facing estimated budget deficits of $3.8 million for the 2002-2003 school year and $5.4 million for the 2003-2004 school year. The criteria will be used to put programs into "mandated," "must have," "should have" and nice to have categories." Additional criteria considered will include the affect a cut would have on class size, the number of students affected by a cut and repercussions and liabilities the district would face by making a cut. The additional criteria will be used to help board members decide which category a program belongs in. The board approved the cuts 7-1 with board vice president Mary Thurmaier as the only dissenter. "I don't think this (the criteria) is going to accomplish (our goals)," Thurmaier said. Thurmaier said she felt that philosophical differences among board members would prevent them from being able to reach a consensus on which category a particular program belongs in. She also questioned the usefulness of the additional criteria. "How am I supposed to determine how many children this (program) is going to affect," she said. Andrea Spears, a sixth-grade teacher at Plover-Whiting Elementary School lambasted the board over its proposed cuts. She said she was "livid" over the board's talk of cutting programs. Spears, who has been teaching at Plover-Whiting for 16 years, said that the district's curriculum has evolved over time and that every program in place is there because it is necessary. "The thing that really upsets me is that there is no vision in this board," Spears said. She added that by making program cuts the board would be moving backward instead of forward. The board will meet in a special session on Tuesday, Aug. 7, to put programs into the different categories. Talks of drastic program cuts may be a bit premature however, as board president Ray Haas said the district hopes to get a $3.1 million operating referendum passed for the 2002-2003 school year and a $4.8 million referendum passed for the 2003-2004 school year. Haas said that if the board could get those referendums passed, it would have to make cuts of $800,000 for the 2002-2003 school year and $600,000 for the 2003-2004 school year in order to keep the tax levy the same as in 2001-2002. The board also approved, 5-3, five early-release days for the elementary schools for the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 school years at its meeting. Previously the board had voted against early-release days in a dispute over raising the number of days from five to six. Early-release days involve elementary students being dismissed before the scheduled time, giving teachers time to work together to coordinate and plan lessons and programs. Spears addressed the board on the subject of release days. She said that since teachers usually only get about a .008 percent pay increase whereas other employees often see a .03 percent increase the extra release days seem reasonable. She said that elementary teachers far exceed the state-mandated amount of face-to face student contact. "Having nine or 10 days is not a big deal. Six days is not a big deal. Maybe we can get one day," Spears said. Spears said she was particularly upset about board member Jim Harmon's remarks at the July 9 board meeting because she said 99 percent of teachers already work more than 40 hours a week. Harmon had suggested that teachers should meet on their own time. "Having offended many, I apologize," Harmon said. "My comments were not intended to offend." However, he still voted against having any early-release days. "I do not object to the activities that go on in early release days, I just think they could be done more efficiently," he said. Harmon suggested possibly changing to two or three full-days off. Board member Elmer Fournier said he was also against the early-release days because of the extra burden they put on working families who must find extra child-care because of the half days. Board president Ray Haas also voted against having early-release days. Many board members felt the days were beneficial. "Time for elementary teachers to work together and plan is very important," said Thurmaier. "I think it's quite beneficial to the teachers and beneficial to the kids."