The newest round of budget cuts in the Coupeville School District affects paraeducators and the farm manager, while eliminating the Dean of Students position.
The School Board, on a 4-1 vote April 27, adopted a “Modified Education Plan” which instructs Superintendent Steve King to reduce expenditures by up to $1,450,000.
That plan:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1drChKk0XF7nxVKGsRO7pxqzV8tp9G5Qj/view
The district has updated its list of cuts on its website three times, with the most recent tweaks hitting the internet Wednesday.
As of May 1, there were $790,100 in cuts.
That figure went to $928,000 on May 15, then jumped to $1,269,100 June 21.
The newest cuts include eliminating the Dean of Students position, held by Tom Black, a 19-year veteran of the district.
That cut is listed at $85,000.
Tom Black
“Unfortunately, these difficult decisions have led us to cut this position on the secondary campus,” Superintendent Steve King said in an email Thursday.
“Mr. Black is deeply respected by students and staff alike; we recognize this is a significant loss.
“Our administrators will adjust to absorb the daily support previously provided by Mr. Black, including increasing student supervision time.
“We thank Mr. Black for his many years of service and love for our Coupeville students.”
Other trims include reducing the Farm Manager position to being funded solely by grants, which will reduce cost by an estimated $50,000.
“The work of the school farm and its benefits for student learning and engagement is important to keep in place for the district,” King said.
“Kylie Neal, who has been doing amazing work as our Farm Manager, has resigned as she is relocating.
“The district plans to continue the position for the 23-24 school year, but it will be funded by grants and not from the district general fund.”
All paraeducators will see their schedule trimmed from 7 hours to 6.5, which the district pencils out at a savings of $76,300.
“To save as many positions and jobs as possible, we will be reducing our para daily hours,” King said. “This will allow paras to still be at work during the entire time students are on campus, including some before and after school supervision.
“While this impacts our paras, it is similar to the daily hours worked in many school districts.”
With the pandemic in retreat, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds which previously funded two temporary paraeducator positions at the elementary school ($60,000 total) will no longer be available.
As previously announced, one other paraeducator position has been eliminated due to attrition.
In a small trim, the district will reduce its transportation dispatcher position by four days.
This reflects the addition of four parent/teacher conference days, with no student attendance, to the 2023-2024 calendar.
The final new addition involves state lawmakers’ recent decision to fund free breakfast and lunch for all elementary school students beginning this fall.
“Based on our past experience when students received free breakfast and lunch we anticipate a significant increase in revenues with a less significant rise in expenses,” King said.
“We are currently projecting that this will be a reduction of at least $60,000 to the annual district contribution to the Connected Food Program.”
As the budget cut process has played out, two athletic positions have been involved, though one is no longer part of the plan.
A proposal to remove Willie Smith as Athletic Director, and hand his duties off to an assistant principal, was removed after originally being announced.
However, cutting CHS alumni and current teacher Jessica Caselden as Athletic Trainer ($8,200) remains on the list, despite a substantial outcry from athletes, coaches, and community members.
Jessica Caselden (far right), with other Wolf alumni who have gone on to become successful leaders in their communities. (Photo courtesy Kassie O’Neil).
A majority of the high school softball team wrote letters to King and school board members in support of Caselden.
Since then, Coupeville Sports has also received, and published, multiple letters to the editor calling for the decision to be overturned.
Writers have included fellow alumni and current Wolf coaches, praising Caselden’s work ethic, her return to the community in which she grew up in, and the impact it has on young students to have a positive female role model.
As of June 22, the cut remains in place.
“Over the past year, we have had an Athletic Trainer position,” King said. “However, due to our current financial situation, we will no longer be able to have this position.”
The next school board meeting, which will be streamed online, is set for Thursday, June 29 at 5:30 PM in Annex Room 305 at Coupeville High School (501 South Main).
The cuts will not be on the agenda, as they are not proposals, but part of an ongoing plan already approved by the board.
There is a public comment option, however, with a total of 15 minutes allotted for community members to speak in person.
Individual speakers are allowed three minutes, with the board restricting “public comment related to specific personnel issues.”
To see the budget cuts in full, pop over to:
Coupeville Sports 