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Oregon
Hall’s list of administrative cuts called inadequate
By Kelly J. Kaczala
Press News Editor
kkaczala@presspublications.com
Oregon Schools Superintendent John Hall’s proposed cuts in the administrative budget were unacceptable to the school board at a meeting last Tuesday in the media center at Clay High School.
The board, by a vote of 3-2 on April 15, directed Hall to come up with $100,000 in cuts in the administrative budget by May 13.
Board members Richard Gabel, Jeff Ziviski and Diane Karoly, had voted in favor of the directive, while Betty Carstensen and Eric Heintschel were opposed.
Proponents have asked for administrative cuts because teaching and non-teaching staff have borne the brunt of reductions so far, with over $3 million trimmed from the budget in the last year. The focus now is on cutting expenses at the administrative offices on Seaman Road, not principals or assistant principals.
“That includes the office of superintendent, assistant superintendent, treasurer, and others at the administrative level,” said Ziviski before the meeting. “We want to keep away from the teaching staff, bus drivers and the custodian level. The building principals are greatly affected by the cuts at the certificated and classified levels. We wanted some reductions that were administrative specific.”
But the list submitted by Hall, who did not attend the meeting last Tuesday, fell short of what the board wanted.
Proposed cuts include $3,000 in tuition reimbursement, a $23,000 color copy machine, and hiring an interim principal at Eisenhower Middle School at a reduced rate and support with central office staff, saving $64,000.
“I think it’s unacceptable,” Ziviski said at the meeting. “I’d like to go back to the superintendent and start from scratch with a new list prepared for the next meeting. Start over and try again.”
“If you would like me to convey that, I would willing to do that,” said Heintschel, school board president. “What part of that is unacceptable? Are there any specific items you would like pulled off the list? Help me out with some direction.”
“I would like some explanation of what each one is,” said Ziviski. “I’m not sure of the cost justification of what’s on there. It’s just unclear.”
Some of the cuts weren’t considered administrative.
“I was wondering how the color copier was an administrative cut,” said Karoly. The copier, she said, located in the administrative office, is used by others in the district.
“I just didn’t see how that was an administrative cut. If he thinks it is, I guess anything anyone uses out of that office is fair game,” she said.
Ziviski said he had a “big time issue” with the $64,000 cut.
“If you don’t want to have a full-time principal at the school, I think that’s ridiculous to consider,” he said. “That’s telling me we don’t need a principal at any building full-time. I know what these principals do at the buildings. They’re the first line of communication in the district. We need a principal at every building. I think that needs to be taken off.”
Gabel said he was “very disappointed” with the list.
“I’m not happy with the list at all,” he said. “The color copier helps. But I’m dead set against hiring an interim principal. The way this is set up, it sounds like we’re going to send people out there to babysit. That’s not what we’re looking for. We’re looking for cuts in the higher up administrative. I’m not looking for jobs. I don’t want anybody’s job. I want to save jobs, all I can. That’s why I’m asking for these people to come up with some cuts on their own, so that we don’t have to get rid of jobs. We are faced right now with big financial problems. It’s not going to get better. So we have to protect ourselves and look ahead of the game, down the road. That’s what I’m trying to do. There’s a lot of areas where I think the top administrators can cut. I don’t see them getting there, and I’m fairly disappointed about it. I’m with Jeff. Send it back and we’ll start from scratch. I’m very disappointed.”
“I will make sure those comments are conveyed, and let John know he needs to get back to work on the recommendations of the board,” said Heintschel.
The next board meeting is at Wynn School on June 10 at 6 p.m.
In March, voters passed a 5.9 mill operating levy to avoid a budget deficit expected next year. It will generate $3.5 million, not enough to cover the shortfall.
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