13 Teaching Positions on the Chopping Block

School officials have proposed the elimination of 13 certified teaching positions in an effort to hold the budget line for next year.

Superintendent Nate Greenberg has recommended a $66 million budget proposal for fiscal year 2014, which he presented for the first time at Tuesday's School Board meeting. The proposal would have a tax impact of 49 cents, he said.

The recommended budget represents an increase of roughly $580,000 over the current year, an increase of less than one percent, Greenberg said Tuesday. The budget is $1.1 million below the default budget.

Londonderry is anticipating decreases of $1.1 million in state adequacy aid and $1.7 million in other downshifting from the state next year. The largest portion of that downshift comes from the elimination of a 35 percent state share in retirement costs, at a cost of $1.4 million in fiscal year 2014.

Greenberg said those revenue losses, coupled with declining enrollment, forced personnel reductions for next year.

"We believe the proposed budget for fiscal year 2014 is true to the core tenants of our strategic plan, is financially prudent given the present state of the economy and revenues and allows for the continued implementation of initiatives and protects the investment in our schools," he told the School Board Tuesday.

"We have not been Pollyannaish in our outlook," he said. "We recognize that to accomplish what we and the community expect of our school, internal accommodations and adjustments will have to be made."

Greenberg proposed cutting two teaching positions from the high school, 2.5 teachers from the middle school, five elementary school classroom teachers and the equivalent of 1.7 elementary art, music and gym teaching positions, according to the budget document.

The proposal eliminates an elementary-level special education teacher and one-half special education teaching position at the middle school. One-half of a district-wide English as a Second Language teaching position would also be cut.

Altogether, Greenberg's proposal would eliminate 13.2 certified teaching positions and the equivalent of 17.44 full-time, non-certified positions for a net savings of $1.2 million, according to the recommended budget.

In addition to Greenberg's recommended budget, the School Board has asked staff to present examples of what a level-funded budget and a flat tax rate budget would look like.

Business Administrator Peter Curro said staff would need to cut an additional $580,000 to level fund the budget. Staff will present both versions at the Dec. 20 budget workshop.

The School Board and Budget Committee will hold the next budget workshop on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. in the School Board room.

"Your efforts are greatly appreciated," School Board Chair John Lafferiere told school administrators Tuesday. "Obviously we're in tough times, but we'll give (the budget) the due diligence it deserves and try to provide good, sound feedback."