School District Looks to Cut More Spending

By WENDI ZONGKER

FERNANDINA BEACH – Despite achieving its goal to cut $4 million from next year’s $89-million school budget, the Nassau County School District is searching for more ways to reduce spending, Superintendent John Ruis said.

The School District has cut 95 positions -including 30 teachers – for the 2008-09 school year. Coupled with other reductions in spending, officials have reduced the budget by $4.1 million.

But, Ruis said he isn’t done making cuts yet.

Ruis anticipates additional cuts in state funding during the next fiscal year similar to the $1 million in cuts received during the current fiscal year. So, district officials will continue to look for ways to reduce spending.

“We’re looking at areas that are possibilities now and trying to move very conservatively in anticipation of future cuts. And Lord only knows where we may get those,” Ruis said.

Among those who will be without jobs come fall are 28 bus drivers and one mechanic.

As a result, school start times will be altered so one bus driver can pick up and drop off elementary school students and then go back and pick up middle- and high-school students.

Ruis said Tuesday he doesn’t know exactly how it will work, but the plan is to start elementary school 10 to 20 minutes earlier and middle and high school up to an hour later.

It is unknown if the change will make the start time for Nassau’s schools uniform. Start times now vary, with Callahan Intermediate and Yulee High beginning the earliest at 7:45 a.m. The plan will save an estimated $600,000 on salary, gas and maintenance costs.

While Ruis is looking at many options for cutting costs, he said he wants to avoid cutting classes and extracurricular programs.

“None of those have been cut as a result of the budget reductions at this point and that was one of our goals when trying to construct the budget reductions,” he said.

And at least one change students and faculty will see in August isn’t related to budget cuts.

The price of school meals went up 25 cents on May 22.

Food Services Director Allyn Graves said the increase has more to do with rising food costs than budget cuts.

Milk costs rose 32 to 35 percent over last year while the cost of chicken has jumped 45 percent, she said.

“The cost of the chicken per serving has gone up more than the meal price increase,” she said.

Graves is looking at other ways to cut costs including substituting fresh fruit with canned two days a week.

“We’re doing everything we can to maintain the quality of the food plus the nutritional value,” she said.

The price of reduced breakfast, 30 cents, and reduced lunch, 40 cents, will stay the same, Graves said.THE NEW PRICE OF FOODBREAKFASTElementary: $1.25Secondary: $1.50Adults: $1.75LUNCHElementary: $1.75Secondary: $2.25Adults: $3DISTRICT OFFICEDistrict staff budget – $420,0001 coordinator of school safety and security – $97,0001 assistant finance coordinator – $63,0001 district curriculum resource teacher – $75,0001 staff development employee – $60,0001 middle grades drug education coordinator – $53,0003 reading coaches – $150,000 Total: $918,000SCHOOLS30 teachers – $1.5 million11 paraprofessionals – $275,0005 guidance counselors and librarians – $250,0003 middle school resource officers – $156,000Total: $2,181,000FACILITIES1 facilities coordinator – $79,0002 maintenance employees – $106,000Total: $185,000TRANSPORTATION28 bus drivers – $560,0001 mechanic – $63,000Reduction in substitute driver costs – $44,000Total: $667,000STUDENT EDUCATION ALTERNATIVE SETTING1 teacher – $57,0001 paraprofessional – $20,000Total: $77,000ADULT EDUCATION2 aides/ recruiters – $50,0001 data entry administrator – $40,000Total: $90,000FOOD SERVICE1.5 food service workers – $24,800Total: $24,800Grand Total: $4,142,800

(c) 2008 Florida Times Union. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.