The Avon Lake School District will cut its Family & Consumer Science (home economics) program in a continuing effort to shave $1 million off the budget and ensure the district is operating in the black in 2014.
Kim Bennett, who teaches high school Family Consumer Science (FCS) and Susan Carr, who teaches Learwood Middle School FCS, will both lose their jobs. The Avon Lake Board of Education made the decision at its Feb. 27 board meeting to “Rif” (reduction in force) the positions.
Superintendent of Schools Bob Scott said after the last levy failed, the district was forced to make some tough decisions, including eliminating positions.
The cuts are the latest in a pay freezes and personnel maneuvering to trim the district’s costs.
School union head Leslie Koelsch sent a letter out to union members after the school board voted Feb. 27, explaining how the board arrived at its decision.
“At the time Mr. Scott was projecting in the neighborhood of (eliminating) 40 FTEs (full time employees)," Koelsch said of when the levy failed last November. An FTE is actually a calculation with one FTE equaling $70,000.
Despite program cuts and wage freezes for teachers, the budget was $1.05 million over. Ten teachers in the district retired after the 2012-13 year, and the district opted not to replace them.
“These 10 cut positions (plus the secretaries) bring us very close to balancing our school budget,” Koelsch emailed to union members, noting that the 2 additional cuts almost balance the budget.
Scott said the decision was hard.
“We knew in November we had to meet fiscal year responsibility for 2014. We have to be in the black,” Scott said.
He said the board waited until Feb. 1 for incentives for retirements.
“It lets us take number of teachers we were going to have to let go from 20, down to 10, and then 2," he said. “It could have been worse. The saddest part is both teachers we lost were good teachers.
“Looking at programs, right now Family Consumer Sciences don’t need to continue. (A third) had already retired. It’s not that the classes weren’t valuable. We could potentially get (some classes) through LCC and LCJVS classes.”
“In reality though, any loss is still a loss,” Koelsch wrote. “I would be overjoyed right now if we were able to save these two staff members from their devastating loss. It is truly a sad day for the students and staff..."
One of the those teachers said it would be a loss to the district.
“I think the board made a mistake eliminating our department,” Carr said. “Family and Consumer Sciences teaches real life skills to students and also reinforces and applies core subject areas such as math, science, reading and composition.
“The topics we teach are extremely relevant in today's society: healthy eating and good food choices, smart financial decisions, and maintaining healthy relationships. I know the ALCS is in a tight spot right now where money is concerned, but I am disappointed that they chose to completely eliminate our department as a way to remedy that situation.
She said the other teacher and she had preferred that only one of them be cut than to see the entire department go.
Carr said she hopes voters support the levy in May so no other programs suffer the same fate hers did. Scott said even if the levy passed, the program would not be reinstated soon.
This includes especially our young, as their generation will be paying back this insurmountable federal deficit. Now, add to this increased property taxes for schools, the chances of them ever owning a home in their own city are getting bleaker by the day. It is time we really look at what is important to the students, and my vote is there are many things more critical to a students success than learning how to frost a cake. I am sure the schools will gladly accept additional monies from those willing to pay, even if the levy is not approved by the majority. If you truly support the schools, then get out your checkbook and do the "right thing." Before anyone writes back, stating I am not for the kids, I will tell you I have given more time to the schools system and the youth in this community than 99% of all residents. This was all volunteer. I was also one of the largest donors to the new stadium, as the funds were being raised privately, the way it should have been built. Using the terms "emergency" and "10 years" on the same proposal for a levy is an oxymoron. No emergency lasts 10 years. These cuts should have been made years ago.
When there is no mention of where it originated, one becomes suspicion it may have simply been your opinion. Oh well, not I feel better knowing only 2 teachers will be eliminated, instead of the original 20 we were told. Sounds like the sequestration which began today...at first it was going to be the end of life as we know it, only to learn it was a false alarm. Were there ever going to be 20 teaching jobs eliminated? My guess is NO!
Just to clarify...these classes were much more then just frosting cakes..these are critical life skills classes that some of these children don't receive at home. We are a public school district so not every child comes from a great home where they receive all of the life lessons they deserve so sometimes the school system is their only chance at this so for you that claim these classes are redundant to good parenting please know we have children in need in this city. Like it or not schools are the anchors of communities...good schools bring people to the city which increase property value...people look to move west will compare us to say a Westlake...and if the only difference is they have a blue ribbon school and aren't making cuts guess where they will choose to live? Having a fantastic school system is a huge selling point for a city.
Chances of an article here highlighting how a senior or even a single parent may have to maybe cut back on meds or groceries because of their property taxes may go up again because of poor school administration planning. Zero percent....
> http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/02/how-progressive-education-and-bad-philosophy-corrupted-the-people-undermined-the-constitution-of-the-united-states/#.UTFX_QT50FM.email
Seeing as we are not childhood education experts, as you have said. If the general public cannot say or have an idea what is cut, then the general public cannot have an idea of what is a good program. Simply put your comments on the need for the program cannot be valid. You can't have it one way to fit your argument and the other to dispute another's. State funding was on the decreas for years. if they had kept their eye on school operation alone just a few short years ago. They would not be in this position. The power plant's devalue was years ago as well, and the eventual closing was not a surprise. Cuts should have been made years ago instead of what appears to be "hoping for the best." Oh and that ONE other thing the board had to deal with.. Losses in revenue from property taxes due to decreases in property values in Avon Lake. Not to dispute anything but, an excellent school rating, a brand new stadium, and every program imaginable and the property values went DOWN. Haven't we heard so emphatically for practically every levy that good schools raise home values??? Hmmmm...
While you are listening to the twisted facts--you folks who don`t have a completely closed mind, might take a look at this--- http://www.americanthinker.com/video/2013/02/how_teachers_unions_hurt_schools.html#.UTA65LczjD4.email
http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/03/schools_local_governments_take.html
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/04/08/school-budget-cuts-cut-in-half.html Or maybe this: http://m.springfieldnewssun.com/news/news/local/ohio-budget-keeps-taxes-cuts-school-and-local-go-1/nMsWG/
There's more to be found, in case those sources aren't good enough for you: just type "ohio school funding cuts" into Google.
No. You didn't mix me up with anyone. You called me by name and took direct quotes. Seeing as most, well actually everything you jumped down my throat about was wrong. How am I to trust any of the info you dispense? I can only assume you are part of the campaign because of the,"we have literature out and we are just getting the info out" lines. That's fine. I applaud you being active in the community. But like I said before your tactic of berating someone who simply has a different opinion is not right. And it's not because of mis-information. I have hard copies of literature that states that I have no more money to give..... I get them every month.
Putting childhood education experts in charge of determining how much and where to spend OUR money is like asking the fox to guard the hen house. How about putting an economist, or a business owner who has to live within financial constraints in charge for a change. Leaving up top educators may have produced a great product in Avon Lake, but who couldn't be successful given the nearly unlimited funding they have enjoyed. Let's just all roll over and continue to give them everything they need. Sorry I even questioned their fiscal character. By the way, one the reason people move to Avon Lake, versus Westlake and Bay Village is the value of the education versus the property taxes! Once the taxes reach the level of these other communities, Avon Lake has lost any advantage and our property values will go down, as Avon Lake looks less appealing. Why not look at Avon instead? A growing community which also has a great school system, with much lower taxes. It is about the value for your tax dollars, and we have reached that break-even point. Another levy will put us over the top!
On February 11th Kristen ans Cheryl commented on the levy Facebook page that the people who post a different opinion than the levy comittee are mis-informed. Oh and that we do not care that we are mis-informed. And apparently those without the same opinion are not bright enough to get the proper information to make an "educated" decision. Well some of us have..... Yes. The board lost a lot of cash. Does it suck? Yep. Do they need to cut more? Yep. The board makes projections on budgets for the coming five years. Well, so have I. Gas now sits at just under 4 bucks. Will probably be around 5 bucks in a year or less.I have to budget for that. Taxes ON EVERYTHING, more than you know, to cover national programs will be hitting in the next year. I have to budget for that. Other utilities will be increasing in the next year or so because of regulations. Budget for that. I cannot sell my house, like somemhave suggested I do, because of the reduction in property value in this town. Even with a wonderful school system. The comittee keeps saying property value goes up with good schools. What happened here? I have done homework. And unlike the schools. I will stay within budget.
Value has been down for years, thus the revenue shortfall for the board..... Your literature states this. You keep telling us good schools help retain property value. Why is it just not true?
You can find support for any argument, I am asking that you find out for yourself--- State funding for schools has not been cut---Federal dollars are no longer available, that is not the state, are they having to cut back, sure, will there be more cuts, you bet, will they come begging for more levies, I guarantee it. The whole system, Unions, Teachers, Administrators, is based on extracting more money from the citizenry , but the citizens are broke. It`s like an old Chow, we used to have---everyyear she would have 13-14 puppies, there wasn`t enough teats, nor milk for all. They all squealed, and fought, but always 7 or 8 ended up dead. There are not enough teats nor enough milk-------------------------You don`t really want to know how my father solved the problem.
If we vote against it, the children will suffer, none will go to college, home prices will fall and we will become North Ridgeville. Is that what you want? Trust the teachers. They are all knowing. Trust the school board, they are way smarter than we peons could ever hope to be. Just look at how the entrance exam numbers of any school of education rank versus the other schools on campus.
You are right on, this is stupid! When will we honor the quiet, steady, hardest working members of the school. The breakdown of the family, the concern over poor food choices, the devastating effects of poor money management, poor housekeeping...Gosh we ought to teach this in school. Aaha, we do! or we did! Family and Consumer Science, internationally known as Home Econimics does it. It does not get done at the JVS for the general population. It is needed for the college graduate as much as the rest of the student body. It is time we push back. These teachers are not the most popular by accident, it is because they are teaching amazing, valuable lessons! Shame on Avon Lake! Sharon Kalish Anghilante
http://avon-oh.patch.com/articles/funding-would-double-for-avon-avon-lake-schools-under-governors-budget-proposal
"The City of Avon Schools are rated Excellent with Distinction vs. Avon Lake as Excellent but City of Avon Schools spend only $7,181 per student for 2011 vs. Avon Lake City Schools $10,904 (reference Ohio Department of Education Finance group). That is a big difference without a good explanation as to why. "
*Avon Lake has a higher cost per student than Avon Approximately $10,800 to $7,100 *One of the factors in Avon having a low cost per student is their rapid growth. *75% of the Avon Teaching Staff have less than 10 years of experience *75% of the Avon Lake Teaching Staff have more than 10 years of experience *Avon Lake has reduced its teaching staff by 10% in the last 3 years *Avon Lake has 24 teachers retiring in the next 2 years Avon Lake’s cost per student is dropping and will continue to drop with a smaller staff and a younger staff