Questions About the Reorganization

The latest post on Josephine Posti's Center Court blog attempts to answer questions about the reorganization that took place last Friday. In my mind, this has raised more questions.

Q. When will other positions impacted by the reorganization be announced? The Board hasn't approved this reorganization and won't do so until April 18, 2011.  According to the answer in this first question, doesn't it sound like the Board was taken by surprise?  Maybe it is the Board who is asking this question.

Q.Is this announcement a reaction to the District's current or future budget situation? I have a suggestion for significant savings.  Postpone the April 28 Groundbreaking Ceremony and regroup.  Shouldn't this plan be in place before that shovel goes in the ground?  Yes, we are getting a budget with no millage impact, but did they forget what they did to us last year?  Is it coincidental that this is an election year?  This is not the time to be starting a $113.3 million project. 

Q.Will there be staffing changes within the teaching staff? I was at a Audit and Finance Committee meeting when Jan Klein told us that we could save $115,000 for each teacher retirement with no replacement.  From the District website:

Budget Assumptions – The District will closely monitor staff retirements since salaries are the largest single factor in school costs.  Each teacher retirement will save the District about $50,000 if a replacement teacher is required.  If no replacement is required, savings could be an extra $65,000.  Early estimates are for ten teacher retirements.

I can't put my finger on it right now, but we were told that retiring teachers were not going to be replaced.

Q.Why now?
A.  These changes aren't changes that previous superintendents haven't considered. Huh?

From the District website:

And finally, the District is expecting no more revenues from Federal Stimulus Funds and no increase in funding from the State.  This, coupled with sluggish home sales and flat revenues from Earned Income taxes, all point to a challenging budget preparation process.

I applaud Dr. Steinhauer for taking these necessary and long overdue steps to reorganize.  Maybe it is also time to rethink the timing of the high school renovation too.  Please.