District Threatens to Cut 81 Teachers, Most Busing (IN)

November 23, 2010

Franklin Township schools could cut 81 teachers, close three schools and eliminate most busing in an effort to make up a $13 million shortfall.

Board members will vote Monday night on a new round of drastic cuts, 6News’ Kara Kenney reported.

The district has already trimmed about $5 million from this year’s budget, eliminating 30 teaching positions, reducing busing and charging a pay-to-play fee for student athletes.

The proposal that will be considered Monday includes cutting all busing, except for children with special needs, and eliminating the jobs of 81 teachers, four administrators and seven others.

Three schools would also be closed — Acton Elementary, Wanamaker Elementary and an intermediate school — and programs would be slashed, including art, music and physical education in elementary schools and orchestra at the high school.

Board members said they want to spell out the proposed cuts so the public knows what’s at stake if a referendum posed in May doesn’t pass.

“With the governor cutting our budget by 30 percent and not making it up in any way, we are forced to do this,” board member Randy Bland said via e-mail. “As a board, we are voting Monday so the public knows that the cuts are a for sure thing and then it is on the backs of the voters if they do not want to devastate the schools and further reduce property values.”

Franklin Township is among several districts suing the state over the current school funding formulas, which they say unfairly penalizes growing districts.