“We have to prepare for a tough future,” Carroll Superintendent John Sayers said, referring to ever-increasing reductions in state funding. “2011 will be worse than 2010.”

For Carroll, state cutbacks mean a shortfall of $300,000 in the general fund for the 2010 calendar year.

At last Wednesday night’s school board meeting, Sayers outlined a series of proposals to make up for this year’s shortfall. They are the result of discussions and planning by building-level committees and by the school board and superintendent.

“These are recommendations, not hard and fast measures,” Sayers said. “I don’t know of a one that’s popular, but we’re getting close to the number ($300,000)”

Sayers said that ways to reduce spending have been discussed at board work sessions prior to the last two meetings, and he believes they will continue to be discussed at every meeting for a long time.

Cost savings proposal

He read the following cost savings proposal:

Discontinue 403b contributions - $25,000

Eliminate two aides - $14,000

Reduce four teaching positions - $44,000

Move staffing cost from General to Grants & other funds - $90,000

Administrator insurance contribution & discontinue 403b - $12,000

Eliminate summer school - $11,000

Athletic reductions & extracurricular - $20,000

Reduce 1/2 nurse position - $13,000 Reduce conferences - $4,000

Transfer costs to cafeteria - $10,000

Reduce overtime pay custodians - $4,000

Reduce LAJSSC budget - $20,000

Sayers said the savings figures may vary. As listed they total $267,000.

Sayers also presented other items for consideration:

Review facility charges for outside organizations to assure charges cover expenses

Reduce number of counselors corporation wide from 3 to 2

Reduce number of high school secretaries from 4 to 3

Investigate filling coaching positions with volunteers

Audit license expense on software and systems

Review costs of conducting summer swim lessons

Additional reduction of instructional assistants corporation-wide

In a follow-up conversation with board president Sam Zook, he said many of the proposals, if implemented, would not take effect until next school year, and some are subject to contract negotiations. He said some of the proposals will require board approval, and others can be implemented at the building level.

“We need to do what we can now,” he said.

Zook added that proposed measures will likely be considered and implemented “piecemeal.” He anticipates that decisions concerning staffing will be a top priority.

A former teacher in the Carroll school system, Jason Burns, asked if the corporation could draw from its Rainy Day Fund.

Sayers answered that the Rainy Day Fund was expended as of Dec. 31, 2009.

Teacher Don Shively made a suggestion to hire a grant writer, who would be paid through the grant.

Teacher Diane Goubeaux suggested paying some sports-related costs out of the Athletic Department instead of out of the general fund.

School Improvement Plan The board adopted a corporation wide School Improvement Plan. This is a local plan, but is identical to the AdvancEd process that is used for school accreditation by the North Central Association Commission.

“It will be applied across the curriculum – in every class and subject,” Zook said.

The plan is based on achieving high standards, continuous improvement, quality assurance, and verified results.

The seven standards are: Vision and Purpose, Governance and Leadership, Teaching and Learning, Documenting and Using Results, Resources and Support Systems, Stakeholder Communications and Relationships, and Commitment to Continuous Improvement.

A complete copy of the plan can be found on the school website.

Zook said Carroll’s in-house plan will include an ongoing review.

“School Improvement will be on nearly every school board agenda, to see how the plan is being implemented,” he said in a follow-up interview. “Progress reports should show benchmarks, improvement, interventions, and monitoring of interventions to see if they’re working,” he explained.

Loan bids

The corporation received loan bids from three banks for its chiller project. The loan will be in the amount of $800,000. The board voted to go with Security Federal, with an interest rate of 2.25 percent. Interest paid will be $28,306.85.

The next board meeting will be March 16 at 1 p.m. in the Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School media center. Following a short meeting, the board will have a joint session with the Student Council.