Taylor Hern (left) and Nicholette Bradshaw hold up signs protesting cuts to teaching positions at Monday night's board meeting at Cedartown High School (Jake Carter/thepolkfishwrap.com)
The school board met at the Cedartown High School cafeteria to vote on a force reduction plan presented by Superintendent Marvin Williams as part of an effort to make up a $2.8 million deficit in the 2012-2013 budget.
William's plan included cutting six CTAE teaching positions at the high schools and three elementary music and art teachers. These cuts were voted on separately from the rest of the proposals
The motion to cut six CTAE teachers failed to pass in a 2-4 vote with Andy Fairel and Susan Berry voting for and Tim Turner, Dan Forsyth, Tommy Sanders and Chuck Thaxton voting against. The motion to cut three music and art teachers failed to pass with Tim Turner and Andy Fairel voting for and Berry, Sanders, Forsyth and Thaxton voting against.
The board voted unanimously to cut other positions including:
- One CHS physical education position open due to the teacher transferring out of the system.
- Eight elementary teacher positions will not be filled due to a vote to increase class sizes
- Four elementary teaching positions and one middle school teaching positions open due to retirements.
- One special education coordinator position open due to retirement.
- Two assistant principal positions open due to resignation and transfer.
- One middle school counselor position open due to resignation.
- Graduation coaches will be reduced to part-time positions and one open position will not be filled.
- One part time ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) teacher position currently open will not be filled.
The other major item on the agenda was discussion of the four-day school week. Board member Tommy Sanders presented a case for changing to the four-day week stating it was the best solution to save positions and school programs.
"I spoke with the superintendent of Haralson County and he praised the four-day week," Sanders said. "He told me student test scores have increased, teacher and attendance has increased and discipline problems have gone down."
Several members questioned the cost savings and the length of the school days if the board changed the schedule.
Williams and Director of Financial Services Alan Melson stated cost savings were estimated between $290,000 and $409,000 depending upon the number of days on the final calendar.
The length of the school day would also depend on the calendar Williams said. Students are required by law to receive a minimum number of hours of education per year. One of the potential problems of the four day calendar is that elementary and middle school students would get out before high school students, which could cause transportation problems for the system.
"I have been on this board for 20 years, and this the the most difficult time we have ever faced," Sanders said. "In the last couple of years we have made all of the easy cuts, it's impossible to make any further cuts without touching the students in one way or another."
"I just wonder if we could make the change at this point," Board member Susan Berry said. "I think that it would be a real challenge since we've already gone with the 170 day calendar and we've changed to the seven period schedule at the high school level."
Several board members asked for more information on cost savings and scheduling before a proposal be placed before the board for a vote.
"I spoke with the superintendent of Haralson County and he praised the four-day week," Sanders said. "He told me student test scores have increased, teacher and attendance has increased and discipline problems have gone down."
Several members questioned the cost savings and the length of the school days if the board changed the schedule.
Williams and Director of Financial Services Alan Melson stated cost savings were estimated between $290,000 and $409,000 depending upon the number of days on the final calendar.
The length of the school day would also depend on the calendar Williams said. Students are required by law to receive a minimum number of hours of education per year. One of the potential problems of the four day calendar is that elementary and middle school students would get out before high school students, which could cause transportation problems for the system.
"I have been on this board for 20 years, and this the the most difficult time we have ever faced," Sanders said. "In the last couple of years we have made all of the easy cuts, it's impossible to make any further cuts without touching the students in one way or another."
"I just wonder if we could make the change at this point," Board member Susan Berry said. "I think that it would be a real challenge since we've already gone with the 170 day calendar and we've changed to the seven period schedule at the high school level."
Several board members asked for more information on cost savings and scheduling before a proposal be placed before the board for a vote.
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Editor's note: This story has been updated to include the record of votes.
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