If the price of oil stays around $50 dollars per barrel into the fall, long-term repercussions on the state’s economy are guaranteed. For education, that means we’re just looking at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cuts.
“Next year is going to be a bad year, but it’s going to be the best year of all the bad years to come,” said Nome School Superintendent Shawn Arnold.
Unless things turn around, Arnold says next year will be the good year for Nome Public Schools. As of the school board work session earlier this week, the 3rd draft of next year’s budget has the district dipping almost $270 thousand into savings to make ends meet—which is better than the $600 thousand deficit predicted in the previous draft.
Arnold and Business Manager Paula Coffman (who could not attend Tuesday’s work session), are hoping to avoid terminating employees by shifting positions within the district. But salaries account for almost 90 percent of expenditures, so the impact on personnel is inevitable. And word from Juneau says the one-time funding of $200 thousand will almost certainly not be reinstated this year.
“It really is paining us. There’s some stuff you’ll see in the most recent draft of the budget that’s going to be a large impact on the district,” said Arnold. “We’re doing everything we can to preserve instructional positions, but we are going to have to make cuts across the board, including the district office. There isn’t going to be any department or school section that’s going to be left untouched.”
For next year, Arnold and Coffman proposed the equivalent reduction of five full-time employees—which would save $400 thousand. None of these positions are currently filled, besides Richard Beneville—who is retiring from the community schools program—and potentially one aide at Nome Elementary. Arnold says letters were sent out to classified staff this week to inquire about their intent to return next year.
At this week’s job fair in Anchorage, they’re looking to fill only two positions: assistant principal at Nome Beltz and a Jr. high science teacher. The remainder of open jobs will be absorbed by other staff or filled from within. For example—with Pre-Kindergarten funding cut by the legislature, tenured Pre-K staff will be moved to the elementary or junior high. It’s not their ideal teaching assignment, but Arnold says they’re qualified for this transfer—and it means NPS will be hiring fewer new teachers.
Arnold says other districts are cutting specialists who teach courses outside core instruction, but he wants to prevent that here.
“And I hate using this term when we’re looking at our budget, but I really believe it’s balancing the budget on the backs of kids,” said Arnold.
“And this is the good year,” responded Board President Betsy Brennan.
“Yes, and this is the good year,” said Arnold.
The district’s fund balance, or savings, is currently just over $1 million, so it can’t sustain large, yearly depletion.
The board explored other ways to cut back next year, including contracting out more services, offering retirement incentives, charging for facility use, and seeking outside funding for vital programs. Sitnasuak has funded the JROTC program for the past 5 years, and without an outside donation, NPS cannot afford to keep it going for next year.
Board member Jennifer Reader expressed frustration with the litany of student travel expenses.
“$10,000 for cross country; $28,000 for basketball, boys/girls wrestling and volleyball; $8,000 for cheerleading; $16,000 for music; and $6,000 for general,” said Reader.
For spread-out rural districts, travel is one of the large costs. Even though students work hard to raise money, it totals over $150 thousand each year—equivalent to a few teaching positions. But Brennan says that’s not an easy cut, either.
“A lot of our kids are keeping their grades up and doing well because they’re in sports or JROTC or music,” said Brennan.
She’s disappointed with how finances are being handled by the state and doesn’t want Nome Schools to suffer in the long run because of near-sighted cuts. She says she knows at least five students who would’ve dropped out if not for programs like JROTC.
“I kind of have some philosophical differences with the way the state legislature is doing it. You don’t take an ax… You have to be surgical and you can’t do it all in one year. If we know we’re going to face this for the next several years, we have to do it in a way that’s not going hurt so bad,” said Brennan. “What if we lost 40 more students to Mount Edgecumbe because we cut our sports? Or because we can’t offer certain classes? That’s something to think about.”
The board will be meeting with the city council in the coming weeks to hammer out their share of funding.
Meanwhile, a new principal will be taking over next year at Beltz. Edwin “Chip” Sharpe, currently an administrator in Mountain Village, was approved by the board for the 2015-2016 school year.
