By James B. Bartle
Tough decisions in tough times brought a staff reduction to reality at Sullivan Schools on Tuesday night after the school board met in closed session to make the personnel cuts.
The cuts were not announced until the close of business late Friday and after all affected staff personnel were properly spoken to by the district.
Dr. Mickie Shank, Superintendent of Schools, said, “We made these decisions now, instead of waiting till April, to give our staff affected by the cuts a chance to find other employment. We want to let our district taxpayers know that we have not cut programs or formats so the children in the district should not notice any difference in teaching.”
Shank stated that the cuts made amount to between $660,000 and $670,000.
In all the reductions/or cuts included four positions that had retirements or resignations. Those were: one Instructional Technology, retired; Theater Director, resigned, now a part-time position; High School Math, resigned; and Primary School teacher, resigned.
Certified positions reduced include the 21st Century and Reading First Grants funding which ended along with reductions in federal funding for Safe Schools Grant and Title One programs. These brought cuts of two Grant Reading Coaches; one Grant Mentor, part time; one Grant Coordinator/Assistant Principal; one alternative Education Administrator; one School Resource Officer;  and a part-time Primary teacher.
Other certified position reductions were: one Elementary teacher; one High School Science teacher; one High School Social Studies teacher; one High School French I/Comm. Arts teacher; one High School Physical Education teacher; one Middle School Electives position; and one Special Education teacher.
Shank stated that there are a number of reasons for the reduction in staff to be carried out.
“We have looked at all areas and encouraged our staff to look at all programs in the district and there are some areas we still have to review,” said Shank. “We are looking at certified positions and determining if all the teachers aids are needed.”
Shank stated that the district is looking into its transportation programs and seeing if things might be changed in this area, with special trips, to reduce costs.
“There are factors that we can’t control at the district, such as utilities,” said Shank. “Our utilities have gone up $140,000 or more. Right now, we have $501,870 budgeted and we’ve spent $311,005.39, so far, on utilities. I feel that we will probably go over budget on our utility costs.”
Shank stated that, as of December, the district saw its utility bill to the City of Sullivan and its natural gas bill bring a 38 percent increase over the previous year.
The district’s health insurance rates have increased at a rate of 12 percent for the year and a half percent increase is expected for years to come in the employee retirement fund.
The district is also spending some $2.1 million on special education students compared with only $500,000 in state funding.
A touchy subject developing in the district is the proposed increase for tuition of students attending Sullivan High School. These tuition rates include students from Strain-Japan and Spring Bluff Schools. The Sullivan district charges these districts for their students to attend the high school. The rate will be increased to $7,206.35 per student.
Shank added that this is bringing the cost to educate that student in line with every student in the district.
Presently, Sullivan Schools has 1,932 students that live in the district and, with that number expected to drop next school year due to a graduating class of 200, the district will not receive as much attendance funds as in previous years.
“If the Pea Ridge Mine would reopen, that would bring a lot of jobs to Sullivan and more students to our schools,” said Shank. “Something big like that could really impact our school numbers and, thus, we would probably not be making as many reductions in staff.”
Shank concluded that every district in the state is in the same boat as the Sullivan School District.
“We’re all seeing expenses increasing and revenues decreasing,” said Shank. “The good thing is that we are not cutting any programs for our kids.”