C’view making budget cuts for 2011-12

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

CONVOY – With decreasing enrollment and state funding cuts looming, Crestview’s administrative team brought forward nearly $250,000 worth of budget cuts for the coming school year.

Superintendent Mike Estes compiled a list of budget cuts that included a salary freeze for him and building administrators — a savings of $7,100 — the hiring of a less experienced Spanish teacher to replace a retiring teacher, which would save approximately $30,000; $14,000 savings from an elementary teaching position where a less experienced teacher was hired; and the use of additional federal funds received for Title I summer school ($6,100 savings) and Title VI-B extended year services ($5,000 savings).

The district also plans to eliminate summer student help and tech support, which would save a total of $14,350; eliminate the audio-visual coordinator’s position, which is no longer needed now that each classroom has its own AV equipment (savings of $2,700); eliminate a part-time elementary secretary’s position (savings of $6,800); not fill an elementary teaching position (savings $73,000); not replace a part-time custodial position that became vacant approximately a year ago (savings of ($11,000); and reduce athletic supplemental compensation by 1 percent of base (a savings of $15,700).

Estes said personnel savings would total approximately $185,750, and he appreciated the cooperation of Crestview employee associations in making the cuts.

The district is also reducing building budgets by $30,000, saving $17,000 by renegotiating printer/copier service contracts, saving $6,000 by renegotiating waste disposal services and receiving an additional $3,000 in federal funds for special needs testing materials, for a total of $56,000 in that area and an overall savings of $241,750.

The superintendent also noted that, while the district is changing its junior high program to a middle school program, the change is primarily reorganization, since no new teachers will be hired and no new space will be required to operate the middle school program.

“My goal while I’m here is to never ask for new money,” Estes said, adding that the district is seeking to renew a couple of levies already on the books, with no new money being sought.

Moroever, when revenues come in from the wind turbines being constructed in the Crestview District, the superintendent said he would like to eliminate one of the levies the district currently has on the books.

Also Monday, Estes said he is “cautiously optimistic” that achievement test results would be positive this year.

In other news, the board:

• Approved a resolution declaring it necessary to place two renewal tax levies on the November ballot.
• Discussed steps that need to be taken to resolve a problem with the rubber flooring that was installed as part of the recent renovation-construction project.
• Thanked Vantage Career Center and Larry Ray, Precision Machining Technology instructor, for modifications done to the science department’s experiment rods.
• Went into executive session to discuss the appointment, employment or compensation of public employees, with no action taken afterward.
• Heard a presentation from Linda Springer, food services manager, on requirements related to the Healthy Choices for Healthy Children Act.
• Accepted, with thanks, a $1,000 donation from the Wren Community Chest for two senior scholarships.
• Approved handbooks for various school programs.
• Approved the following supplemental positions: Ebany Hammons, junior high basketball and football cheerleading advisor; Jon Van Cleave, junior varsity football coach; Shaun Balliet, Kyle Balliet, Corbin Vance and Craig Taylor, JV football assistants; James Lautzenheiser and Matt Perkins, freshman football coaches; Chris Roop and Tom Riggenbach, junior high football coaches; Kyle Balliet and Craig Taylor, junior high football coaching assistants; and Joy Short, soccer varsity assistant coach.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Crestview Local Board of Education will be at 6 p.m. Monday, July 11, in the district boardroom.