For more than a month, March 22 was billed as the time school board members could make their mark on a list of 119 budget cut items.
It wasn’t much. The Clarkston Board of Education voted 5-1 at Monday’s meeting to approve the entire list, cutting $10 million.
‘The items are brought forth from administration and we have looked at
it for the last three months,? said Trustee Barry Bomier, who voted for it. ‘I am really hesitant to remove anything on this list. I think many of the items are interlaced together.?
Trustee Rosalie Lieblang, who opposed the budget item to outsource principals and assistant principals, voted “no.”
‘I can’t agree it is good to outsource administration that has direct day-to-day contact with students and have direct responsibility for student safety,? Lieblang said. “The people who would have direct contact with our kids would be contractors and not our employees ? I am disappointed I had to vote no on the entire package when I agree 99.9 percent.?
She suggested the district find someplace else to cut the $130,000-140,000 so the district didn’t have to outsource administrators.
Board Vice President Susan Boatman and Trustee Joan Patterson voted with Lieblang to remove the item from the list, resulting in a tie vote ? Bomier, President Steve Hyer, and Secretary Cheryl McGinnis voted against it. Meeting rules considered tie votes to be a defeat.
The audience applauded when Patterson asked that Superintendent Dr. Al Roberts? proposed concessions, $120,000-160,000, be tabled for further discussion.
‘We are getting information coming back to us on a daily basis on other initiatives that may impact this one,? she said. ‘With the sacrifices we have seen with all the groups I would like to make sure we are all sharing it.?
Superintendent Dr. Al Roberts said it will be considered at the next meeting.
Patterson and Lieblang also voted to hold on ‘reorganize and reduce administrative positions,? because the cut increased from $305,000 to $550,000 in a course of a week.
Human Resources Executive Director Linda Nester explained they looked at what people would be cut and their salaries. One layoff notification was presented earlier in the meeting for Pine Knob Elementary Principal Valerie Grimes.
Lieblang asked for clarification and information on administrative cuts. Roberts explained candidates for layoff asked for confidentiality, but he could get her the information later, though it wouldn’t change the new number. It was denied, 4-2.
Also set for the next meeting is discussion of reducing the school board’s budget for conference fees, registrations, and expences.
‘I would like to see additional work go into that,? said Boatman. ‘We just received a detailed listing of the board budget and we can mak e additional cuts there.?
The board agreed and Hyer said they plan to create a task force during the next meeting to look at board fees and budget.
Boatman also asked for the administration to compare increasing prices for a la carte cafeteria food items with other districts. Her concern was Clarkston would be higher than the average price of districts in the area.
Recent administrative changes to the list include eliminating outsourcing transportation and custodial services, in exchange for employee concessions. The district and employee unions agreed on a new contract. Transportation employees agreed to a reduction of $302,942, and custodial services, $487,777, cutting a total of $790,719. The contract changes include reduction of paid days per year, pay cuts, as well as a pay freeze.
The board will have another chance to review recommendations when administration presents the budget. The next board meeting is Monday, April 19, 7 p.m. at the Administration Building, 6389 Clarkston Road.