District Trims $1.8 Million, Still Has $2.8 Million to Go

Amidst pleas by taxpayers to hold the line, the school board of Phoenixville Area School District heard of $1.8 million in cuts and revenue increases at a budget meeting Thursday.

The largest cuts included an escrow reduction for benefits of $525,000, reductions in transportation costs of $255,000, special education reductions outlined at the last meeting of $458,500 and electricity savings of $100,000. A reduction in the funding for Phoenixville Public Library of 4 percent, or $51,807, was also discussed.

With the proposed state budget and its cuts to the district of $2.3 million, the district faces a shortfall of $2.3 million to get to its preliminary budget numbers, which included a 4.43 percent tax increase.

The cuts were divvied up into three categories, green light, yellow light and red light, depending on their effects on the ability of the district to provide education. The green cuts were mostly those discussed at the previous meeting, with a few additions. One yellow light cut was noted, and that was put into the category because it may cause complaints from parents. The district may consolidate bus stops, and some students may have to walk up to a half mile.

With the green and yellow light cuts outlined Thursday, the district will still have to cut $2.8 million from the budget to get to a zero percent tax increase. When the preliminary budget was approved, the board tasked the administration with making a zero percent tax increase work for 2011-2012.

In the red light category, more drastic cuts were listed. Cutting transportation completely would save approximately $3 million, though that number isn’t firm, according to Stan Johnson, executive director of operations. Additionally, a “pay-to-play” idea, which would generate $55,000 was listed, though not recommended. Students participating in sports would be asked to provide some of the funding in that scenario.

The one red light cut generating a lot of discussion was a class size consideration. If class sizes were increased, non-tenured teacher positions could be cut, though aides may have to be added. In total, 28 teacher positions were listed as possible eliminations if class size increased throughout the district. For the high school, a yellow light consideration of following current class size guidelines would eliminate six teaching positions.

Superintendent Dr. Alan Fegley strongly advised against increasing class size. The board asked him to get numbers together to figure out the cost savings if such increases were carried out.

“I just think it’s educationally unsound to do,” Fegley said.

Board Member Jill Slawecki said she would “never support that.”

“I would never support 30 plus students in fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eight grades,” she said.

Board Treasurer Josh Gould asked how the cuts would be made. If programs aren’t cut, tenured teachers can’t be cut.

“This would probably take out every non-tenured teacher [for kindergarten through eighth grade],” Fegley said.

Fegley and Board Member Daniel Cushing pointed to studies showing the effects of a larger class size on students below third grade. After those years, the studies get more muddled, Cushing said, but solid evidence exists to show that smaller class sizes in the lower grades have a positive effect on student learning.

“I’m not recommending this educationally,” Fegley told the board. “I’m just not.”

Residents participated in the meeting. Several asked the school board to do its best to hold taxes steady and not have an increase for the 2011-2012 school year.

Schuylkill Township resident Betty Dunkel Hernon read off numbers that pointed to increased spending and its lack of effect on student performance. More money doesn’t equal better student performance, she said, and costs should be cut and performance improved.

 “We can no longer afford a lavish school lifestyle. We’ll have to change,” Dunkel Hernon said. “It’s about cutting spending, not raising taxes.”

Gould noted that that’s what the board and administration are striving to do, through the budget meeting process. The next budget meeting will be Monday, April 4 at 6 p.m. For more information on the 2011-2012 budget, visit the district's Web site.