Budget Cuts Hit USD 336

May 10, 2010 • Jackson DeLay, Online Editor  
Filed under News

The current budget of the state of Kansas has put schools across the state in tight financial situations.  Superintendent Dr. Jim Karleskint describes Holton’s current budget crisis as, “The worst I have seen in my 35 plus years of education.”  He also noted that although people in Holton are upset, they should remember that it is not just Holton; schools across the state are struggling.

“I don’t see these cuts ending for two or three years,” Principal John Ernst stated.

The first round of cuts were made last Monday at the school board meeting.  The list of cuts saved the district an estimated $383,000.  This list included non-renewing the contracts of 12 instructors at the special ed co op and one high school math instructor, Luke Lang.  Steve Bowser, school board president, explained that the board has the Reduction in Force (RIF) policy in place in case there are budgetary problems or they need to change the schedule.

“This policy takes into account tenure in the district, and if there are other places that teachers are qualified to teach,” Bowser said.  He explained that even if a teacher is qualified to teach at the high school level, that instructor might not be certified to teach at the middle school level.

During the 2008-2009 school year eight Kansas schools switched to a 4-day school week, and more districts are considering making this switch this year.  However, Karleskint was personally opposed to making this change.  “It is not an effective way to educate students,” he said.

Bowser pointed out other concerns with making this switch.  “You run into trouble with grade school children who have parents who are working and have to find day care for one day a week,” he explained.

Some other cuts that will affect high school students include changing the way that the medical careers class will be offered.  Next year if a student wants to take this class, it will be offered the second semester and the student will have to ride the bus down to Washburn Tech to take it.  Another possible change includes offering an interactive Advance Placement Calculus class in which students will learn from a teacher on a television screen.  The teacher will then come to work with the students in person once or twice a month.

“No it is not the most effective way, I would much rather have a teacher in the classroom every day,” Bowser said.  “But, this way is better than not offering it at all.”  Another topic that the school board brought up was changing from block scheduling to an eight day period.  The board decided to let the teachers vote and they voted to keep block scheduling.  Other changes at the high school level include eliminating a freshman or JV sporting event, having Alex Bartel, science teacher, teach half time at the middle school and half time at the high school, having all teachers instruct seven classes, instead of six, and cutting  $100,000 from the technology budget.

Although USD 336 is going through some tough times, we aren’t alone.

“If you watch the news and read the paper, we aren’t the only ones going through it.  It’s just not Holton, Kansas; it’s nuts,” Bowser said.   He also stated that the board is doing everything they can to keep as many people working as they can.

“Right now we are in the process of building a schedule and doing everything in our power to give the students the same class choices and chance to succeed as possible,” Ernst said.

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