School board delays painful budget cuts

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The Franklin Township Community School Corporation needs to cut its budget by more than $8 million. School Board members met Monday night to vote on a number of cost cutting measures. The meeting did not go as planned.

Board members tabled the issue and decided to take another look at the numbers.

Recommendations under consideration include closing two schools, making kids pay to play athletics and making high school students pay to ride the bus.

Over 250 people attended the meeting. Parents gave board members an earful accusing them of not listening to the public and making up their minds to pass the proposals before the meeting even started. Parents later found out that was not the case.

The cuts come as a result of Governor Mitch Daniels' decision to slash school spending by $300 million. Franklin Township Community School Board members did agree to meet on February 10 for another possible vote. The meeting will take place at the administration building at 5:30 p.m.

Below you'll find the recommended cuts and estimated savings to the school district that board members decided to table Monday night.

Summary of Expenditure Reductions Recommended:

• General Expenditure Reductions $1,993,217.00
• Restructuring Schools $1,077,942.00
• Reducing Athletics and ECA’s $ 266,135.00
• Reducing Operations Expenditures $ 954,000.00
• Changing Classified Health Insurance $ 483,681.00
• Reducing Technology Staff $ 138,858.00
• Reducing Administrator Health Insurance Benefits $ 105,678.00
• Eliminating Remaining HS and MS Athletics $ 471,829.00
• Eliminating HS Asst AD (Reinstate Secr) $ 53,000.00
• Restructuring MS Schedule $ 583,000.00
• Eliminating Paid Holidays for Classified Employees $ 160,437.00
• Reducing Additional Certified Staff (HS) $ 477,000.00

Total General Fund Expenditure: $6,764,777.00

Reductions Recommended:

• Transportation Reductions $1,047,019.00