Savings total more than $10.2 million for taxpayers
Olentangy Local Schools announced a third round of budget reductions today bringing the 2009-10 cost savings to more than $10.2 million. “Olentangy has reduced expenditures to create even more efficient operations for our residents while maintaining an excellent quality education for students,” said Superintendent Wade Lucas, Ed.D.
Throughout the 2009-10 school year, Olentangy has adjusted more than 20 programs and staffing areas to save the district $10,223,050 over the next four years. Items from the latest round of reductions are:
- six elementary schools will now have part-time elementary school assistant principal positions, previously only four schools had these positions. This change equates to three full-time positions and brings that total savings to $922,500 over the next four years;
- saving $410,000 by reducing all 2010-11 school budgets for supplies and materials by 20 percent;
- saving $235,000 in all non-union classified employees foregoing a cost of living pay raise for the 2010-11 school year;
- saving $175,778 in 40 elementary level department chair supplemental positions not being filled for the 2010-11 school year;
- saving $100,346 in salary and benefits costs by not filling the vacant assistant director for human resources position for the 2010-11 school year; and,
- saving $82,827 in salary and benefits costs by reducing two curriculum supervisor positions from full-time to part-time positions for the 2010-11 school year.
In September 2009, Olentangy Local Schools announced that the district lost $12.7 million in anticipated revenue from the state due to changes in the school funding system created by House Bill 1. Throughout the 2009-10 school year, the district has made adjustments to not only address this budget situation, but to also find greater operational efficiencies while still providing excellent academic programs for students.
A complete list of Olentangy’s 2009-10 cost savings efforts and other historical cost savings dating back to 1999 is available online at www.olentangy.k12.oh.us/district/finance/costsavings.html