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School Board Votes to Spare Music Program; Waukesha Officials to Cut Classroom Teachers

Posted on: Thursday, 9 March 2006, 21:00 CST

By AMY HETZNER

Waukesha Elementary music skated unscathed through another round of program cuts Wednesday, with the School Board voting to cover a projected $3 million shortfall for 2006-'07 by trimming other areas.

The music program, as well as the gifted and talented program and the district's technology budget, benefited from a last-minute proposal from board member Kurt O'Bryan.

After three board work sessions, all had been lined up to make major cuts at Wednesday's meeting. But O'Bryan introduced an alternative plan after he said a local legislator told him the School District was growing less competitive in Waukesha County.

O'Bryan said his plan will help preserve programs that make the district unique and competitive. "I think that this is a good compromise for the whole board," board member Patricia Madden said. "Everybody realizes we have to make cuts, and serious cuts, and this is taking into consideration the student. And it's saving the good things the students can do and do do for our district."

The bulk of the savings in the program cuts approved by the School Board come from reductions in classroom teachers. Increasing the average class size from 25 students to 27.5 in the middle and high schools and to about 26 students in grades one through six will save the district an amount estimated to be more than $2 million.

Other personnel to be cut are: one full-time position in the gifted and talented staff in middle and high schools; one full-time district administrative position; three guidance counselors; and the equivalent of 3 full-time kindergarten aides.

A $250,000 cut to the technology budget, $100,000 less for busing and a $10,000 reduction in spending on lawn care were the only non- personnel reductions agreed to by the board.

Fee increases of $170,000 will cover the rest of the potential shortfall. A $20-per-student fee for children in kindergarten through eighth grade would be used to offset the cost of the environmental education program. Current admission prices for athletic events will be increased to generate the rest of the revenue.

Board members warned the public, including those who came to the meeting to advocate for favored programs, that many of the issues would come up in future years of program cutting.

"This is a one-year reprieve, and that's all," board member Ellen Langill said.

District officials have blamed budget problems on discrepancies between what school systems are allowed to raise under state- imposed revenue caps and what they have to spend on teacher contracts to avoid arbitration. The Waukesha district has projected it will face shortfalls exceeding $2 million annually in the 2007- '08 school year as well as the following year.

School District voters overwhelmingly rejected a referendum measure last year that would have allowed the district to boost its operating budget.

During Wednesday's discussion, board member Barbara Brzenk accused state legislators of not supporting education and causing schools to fall behind. "Why do we keep sending the same people to Madison?" she said. "They don't listen. They don't listen. They don't listen."

About 30 people attended the meeting, with about a third addressing the board before its vote.

South High School freshman Rangana Wanniarachchi said band and the music program directly augment academics.

Parent George Gesior argued that gifted and talented students must be challenged or they could become problems in school.

Copyright 2006, Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved. (Note: This notice does not apply to those news items already copyrighted and received through wire services or other media.)

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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