State cuts force Sparta schools to cut 45, including 13 teachers
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[With state legislators unwilling to pass the 33 percent state income tax hike Gov. Pat Quinn wants, he has proposed a $1.3 billion cut in educational funding, about $500 per student.
School districts, already cash-strapped because of delays in state payments, are being forced to cut their own budgets. Programs and staff are being reduced to bring expenses in line with revenues.
The Sparta District 140 Board of Education last Monday announced layoff notices affecting 45 positions. They are not alone. Across the state school districts are letting teachers and support staff go, not filling vacancies, combining classes and adjusting class sizes, and cutting back on purchases.
The Sparta District is owed $700,000 in back payments, according to Larry Beattie, board president, and Quinn's proposed cuts would cost the district another $800,000. The district's budget could lose $1.5 million if the state cannot make its back payments.
The state is 170 days late on its payments to school districts, Beattie said.
The board approved not reemploying 13 probationary teachers, including: third year teacher Kim Greenlee; second year teachers Aaron Byrne, and Michelle Kadonsky; and first year teachers Kelly Schaaf, Tobias Schirmer, Hilary Bennett, Elizabeth Diebolt, Andrea Pillers, Andrea Luthy, Bethany Keller, David Hesse, and Pam Runyon; and part-time teacher Kelley Gardiner.
Thirteen full-time and 19 part-time educational support personnel were also approved for non-reemployment. Full-time personnel: Dana Hahn, Judith Robertson, Bridgitte Longshore, Bethany Garrett, Kathy Wolter, Lynette Holliday, Tim Baum, Kristina Clay, Joyce Hayer, Brandi Brockmeyer, Suzanne Manker, Marsha Bird, and Katie Jeffers.
Part-time: Pam Fraley, Linda Upschulte, Nicole Doyle, Amanda Renner, Tina Hutchison, Tiffany Wiese, Thomas Clay, Carline Fulton, Matt Penford, Shelly Nurnberger, Larry Ashley, Larry Gaertner, Ericka Naas, Brenda Ashley, Alyssa Wetzel, Erriel Wolters, Kay Hapke, Anne Bourner, and Nathan Guthrie.
If the state does come up with the money, the pink slips would be rescinded, according to Beattie. Right now that looks like a big if. Beattie asked for everyone to contact their state representatives.
In another cost-cutting move, the board approved hiring Stalker Flooring to sand the Lincoln Gym floor rather than replacing it, saving the district $80,000 to $100,000.
In other business, the board set graduation dates as follows: Sparta High School Baccalaureate Sunday, May 16 at 7 p.m.; Sparta High School graduation, Sunday, May 23 at 2 p.m.; Evansville Attendance Center Thursday, May 20 at 6 p.m.; and Lincoln Middle School Thursday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m.
The school calendar was amended to make Monday, May 24 the last day of school with a dismissal time of 9 a.m.
Don Badgley of Prairie State Insurance Cooperative discussed property, casualty, and workmen's comp insurance with the board, but no decision was made.
A student was expelled for the remainder of the current school year and through the fall semester of the 2010-11 school year. The expulsion will be stayed if the student successfully completes attendance at the Beck Vocation Center.
The board's next meeting was scheduled for Monday, April 19 at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Middle School.