Board of Education members heard an update on WS/FCS district staff’s efforts to reduce expenses in the coming fiscal year. The district is working to save another $13 million for the Fiscal Year 25-26 budget. The new budget year begins July 1.
“The goal is to save with the least amount of impact on our employees as possible for any potential reduction in force,” said Superintendent Tricia McManus.
In the last week, WS/FCS leaders met with stakeholder groups, including the classified staff advisory council board, principals, and all departments, to gather ideas for saving. McManus is inviting a group of teachers for another feedback session next week.
McManus provided the board with a list of ideas that had support from several stakeholder groups. Each idea was at least $100K. She emphasized these are ideas that are under consideration and no official cuts have been adopted. Policy changes or staff reductions would require board approval.
Staff came up with about $12.6 million worth of saving ideas, including:
Eliminating all district cell phones. Savings: $215K. This was an additional cost savings beyond the reduction of cell phones already underway.
Reducing color printing and some floor waxing. Savings: $200K.
Eliminate substitutes for teaching assistants, except where required by law. Savings: $400K.
Reduce Pre-K classrooms due to low enrollment. Savings: $400K.
Increasing class size for grades 4-12 by two students. It would change class sizes to 27 students for grades 4-5; 29 students for middle school; and 31 for high school. Savings: $6.6 million.
Transporting students only to residential or magnet schools. Savings: $3.5M.
McManus noted that a policy update would need to be made to change the transportation options and that the district would want to hear from families on this issue.
Reducing class sizes would reduce the overall personnel cost, but allow displaced staff members to move into other, vacant teaching jobs in the district. McManus wants feedback from teachers on this issue.
Board members asked questions about the impact of increasing class sizes on schools, which have already gone through the process of allotting staff positions for next year. They also asked McManus to evaluate alternatives, such as changing class sizes only at middle or high schools.
Beyond those $12.6 million worth of ideas, staff members also brainstormed ways to save on personnel costs. McManus noted that any staff changes would be required to come to the board for their approval.
Other cost-saving ideas suggested by staff included reducing how many months some employees work; furloughing 12-month employees; reducing pay for staff who earn more than $130K; or reducing more positions beyond the 81 eliminated earlier this year.