QV Weighs Elimination of Positions, Programs

Quaker Valley Superintendent Joseph Clapper outlined a sobering budget proposal for next school year that includes the possibility of  eliminating about a dozen positions and curtailing school programs.

The started with a $2 million deficit, but is now facing a $583,000 budget hole in the 2011-12 school year due to extensive planned funding across the commonwealth.

“This has caused sleepless nights for the director of finance and the superintendent,” Clapper said Tuesday night.

The silver lining: Quaker Valley’s $40.87 million budget costs for next year only increased by 1.5 percent, including salaries and health care. But to balance the budget, Clapper explained,  one of the only solutions would be to reduce costs.

A reduction in costs would translate into the elimination of 12.5 positions:  two administrators, one assistant principal at Anthony Wayne; one custodial supervisor; 5.5 support staff employees; and five faculty members, mostly through attrition, but  one through furlough. Two co-curricular positions also could be eliminated.

Gov. Tom Corbett has said he supports allowing school districts to lay off teachers for economic reasons.

Clapper said most of the is related to people. About 47 percent of the budget goes to salaries and benefits. 

“It’s teachers who teach these students,” he said.

A number of programs also are not immune from the chopping block. Clapper offered a list of programs for possible consideration that could help reduce the budget if necessary, including a reduction in the elementary language arts program, and the ninth-grade computer lease. External professional development activities also could be eliminated.

One of the factors that could hurt the district is the state’s reduction in Social Security reimbursement, an adjustment of about $302,000. Currently, districts are reimbursed for half of their Social Security payments,  but Corbett is looking to implement a formula that changes the way school districts are reimbursed for Social Security expenses.

The state's Act 1  initiative limits the school board’s taxing authority. Meanwhile, property assessments are frozen at 2002 levels and the status of 2012 reassessments in Allegheny County is up in the air.

Clapper said he has written letters addressing the budget shortfall and Social Security adjustment to local legislators, including Sen. John Pippy, R-Moon, Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, and Rep. Rob Matzie, D-Ambridge.

Quaker Valley receives 85 percent of its revenue locally, with 11 percent coming from the state and 4 percent from the federal government.  Clapper pointed out that every contiguous state funds education better than Pennsylvania. West Virginia, for instance, provides schools with a 58.1 percent state share, he said.

“It’s in the constitution. The state is supposed to fund education,” Clapper said.

Increased expenses for next year include: