North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Dr. Bob Boyd has elaborated on staffing cuts approved Tuesday by the school board to “right size” the corporation. He says the reductions in personnel include 10 certified teachers, four of whom are general elementary school classroom teachers. Another three are special education teachers, and three more are certified support personnel. Boyd stresses no educational programs will be cut as a result of the reductions.
An additional 14 non-certified staff will be cut. Boyd says they are primarily teacher aid positions that support student learning and adds no support programs will be cut.
Along with the reductions, Boyd says seven certified personnel will be transferred to new positions in the 2016-17 school year, consistent with their professional certifications and strengths and the needs of the educational program.
Reductions in food service and custodial personnel are still under consideration, according to Boyd. He says they will be announced in a timely manner.
The right-sizing plans include moving 6th grade students back to the elementary school building and reducing the number of administrators at the middle and high school level. Boyd says adjustments in central office and building level administrative positions will be made as a new superintendent is appointed by the school board. His interim contract is up at the end of June.
Funding for staff extra-curricular assignments will also be reduced by between $10 and $13,000. Boyd stresses no clubs, organizations or athletic programs will be eliminated.
He adds decisions about the current central office building and middle school space will be made prior to the start of school in August.
To date Boyd says the adjustments in general fund expenditures total about $1.25 million, which is 16.5 percent of the 2016 general fund total appropriations. He says the right sizing will bring expenditures in line with projected general fund revenue. Boyd says N.J.-S.P. will continue to provide services for all grade levels well into the future. He adds cuts in state funding mean “business as usual from the past” is not possible in the short-term future.
