Seminole County to lay off 50 teachers

From the Orlando Sentinel, by Dave Weber

Seminole County schools are faced with sharp budget reductions for next school year, including cutting teachers, shrinking summer school and eliminating some school bus stops.

The school system also will have to reduce janitorial services to schools, do away with some high school coaching positions, cut assistance to middle school students behind in their work and eliminate a number of jobs at the school district office in Sanford, among other savings.

The School Board agreed that the cuts will be necessary to cover a $16 million budget gap that remains after the Legislature passed its budget last week. The end of federal subsidies, coupled with expected cost increases for items such as electricity and bus fuel, add to the gap.

Sanford Superintendent Bill Vogel said that over the past several years the district reduced spending by trimming items that did not directly affect students. This year, students will feel the pinch as the budget is whittled to $418 million for general operation of the schools, he said.

"We are getting to the point where every one of the budget reductions on the list is having a major impact, and there is a lot of concern," Vogel said.

Most visible may be the loss of 50 teaching positions. That includes 18 teachers in elementary schools, 15 in middle schools, 16 in high schools, and one of the four assigned to the county's Juvenile Detention Center.

Cuts to high school summer school programs and the remedial program for middle schools will directly impact students as well, officials indicated.

Vogel said the reduction of assistant high school coaches by 20 percent could result in the elimination of some junior varsity teams in certain sports. And changes in bus stops for some magnet schools will force some students to walk as far as a mile and a half to bus stops, and others will be on buses as long as 90 minutes one way.

"A lot of parents are going to be upset about this," said Ken Lewis, transportation director for the district.

School board members said that while the cuts are necessary, they are unhappy making them.

"We are hurting kids at this point, and that really bothers me," School Board member Dede Schaffner said.

John avelchak, head of finance for the district, pointed out that while the Legislature is increasing funding for Florida schools by almost $1 billion, the increase makes up only a portion of the $1.3 billion lawmakers cut last year.

Since October the School Board has been worrying over next school year's budget, anticipating at one point a deficit well above $20 million. The board considered closing two elementary schools to saved cash, but reversed course after a public outcry.

"This is the earliest we have ever looked at the next year's budget with this intensity," School Board member Diane Bauer said.

dweber@tribune.com or 407-883-7885

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/os-seminole-schools-budget-20120313,0,347388.story