Olentangy Local Schools is announcing two additional changes that will help to further reduce the budget gap created by the loss of $12.7 million in anticipated revenue from the state. “Olentangy Local Schools is enacting solutions for this economic challenge that will not only allow the district to honor its promise to the community to make the 2008 operating levy last three years, but will also create greater operational efficiencies for the future,” said Olentangy Superintendent Wade Lucas, Ed.D.
The first of these two changes is that all administrators will not receive raises for the 2010-11 school year. “These 79 administrators are voluntarily giving up their raises for next school year to help address the current fiscal challenge the district is facing,” said Lucas. “This is yet another example of the great dedication these individuals have to the Olentangy students, parents and community.” This action is anticipated to save the district approximately $200,000 for Fiscal Year (FY) 11.
In addition, middle and high school extended service time for 37 certified teachers is being reduced. Extended service days are given to certain staff members, such as guidance counselors, to complete work that falls outside their normal 185 day contract. Over the next four years, this reduction in time will save the district approximately $398,172. Extended service days for many elementary positions were reduced in 2007. Those staff positions that are impacted by this adjustment are:
- Career Based Intervention staff will be reduced from six to zero days;
- Career Coordinator staff will be reduced from 10 to zero days;
- Family and Consumer Science staff will be reduced from six to zero days;
- high school Guidance Counselors will be reduced from 20 to 15 days;
- middle school Guidance counselors will be reduced from 18 to 12 days;
- Library/Media Specialists will be reduced from 15 to four days; and,
- high school marketing teachers will be reduced from six to zero days.
“The important work these staff members were completing during this time still exists,” said Lucas. “It is now up to our staff members and administration to find creative ways to complete this work while these programs are restructured to create greater operational efficiencies. I’m sure our excellent staff members are up for this important challenge.”
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. During the January 13 board meeting, Treasurer Rebecca Jenkins announced that due to the work the district has already completed, this budget gap for FY 11 has been reduced to $4.7 million. Throughout the 2009-10 school year, the district has made adjustments in several areas to not only address this budget situation, but to also find greater operational efficiencies while still providing excellent academic programs to students. Some of these budget reductions include reallocating:
- 12 custodial positions;
- 7.5 elective/unified arts teaching positions at the middle and high school levels;
- eight elementary and secondary classroom teaching positions and raising the student/ teacher ratio to slightly higher levels for new growth;
- six music positions and adjusting the elementary strings program;
- two elementary school assistant principal positions;
- six bus driver positions;
- two maintenance positions;
- three office aide positions; and,
- two intervention aide positions.
A complete list of not only Olentangy’s 2009-10 cost savings efforts that equal more than $8.9 million, but other historical cost savings dating back to 1999 is available online at www.olentangy.k12.oh.us/district/finance/costsavings.html