By Terry Oparka
C & G Staff Writer

TROY — Students in the Troy School District will likely make do with fewer teachers and larger classes after officials outlined a budget plan that includes 37 fewer teachers and 22 fewer support staff members next fall.

The plan is an effort to plug an $11 million deficit the Troy School District faces during the 2010-2011 budget year as a result of reductions in state funding, step salary increases, higher health care costs, a 2.47 percent retirement rate increase and cuts to countywide special education revenue due to falling property values.

Reductions in 20j funding and other state cuts this past October resulted in a loss of $5 million, or $413 per pupil. Line item 20j was instituted in 1994 to be a remedy for a flaw in the Proposal A formula to “hold harmless” 39 districts that spent more per pupil than the state was willing to pay.

Next year, district officials anticipate a further reduction of $300 per pupil. Current per-pupil funding is $9,110. 

The proposed Troy School District cuts are based on information gleaned from 12 focus groups held this past fall on what the community thought should be cut and what should be kept.

The district plans to make $6.5 million in cuts, use $5.5 million of the fund balance and leave $13 million in reserves for the 2010-2011 budget year. The district plans to make $8 million in cuts in 2011-2012 and use $3.6 million in fund equity, leaving a balance of $9.4 million. The district plans to cut $7.5 million in 2012-2013 and transfer $673,210 to the fund balance for a reserve total of $10 million. 

Troy School District Superintendent Barbara Fowler told the Board of Education at the March 2 meeting that the 22 support staff members who would be laid off were informed that day.

District officials will identify and advise those teachers who will be laid off in April. However, teachers will work until the end of the school year this spring.

Fowler explained that layoffs would be based on certifications and seniority, and she said it’s possible that the district could have to lay off more than 37 teachers. She added that a discussion may take place in the future regarding opening up the teachers’ contracts with regard to concessions.

Troy School District Community Relations Director Tim McAvoy said the district has made more than $50 million in budget cuts since 2002.

Last spring, the board voted to privatize custodial, transportation and food services for an annual savings of $3.1 million.

“This is not a situation unique to Troy,” McAvoy said. “Neighboring communities are looking at reductions upwards of $25 million. We’ve been proactive, balancing reductions with going into the savings account. Given the severity of cuts and increased costs, it’s clear we have to do something to protect the financial security of the district.

“The goal is to continue to look at reducing costs without eliminating programs,” McAvoy said, adding that no schools will be closed.

Proposed changes include:

•10 percent reductions for guest teachers and non-staff coaches.

• Eliminate bus transportation for water polo and synchronized swim at high schools.

• Eliminate middle school athletic directors.

• Increase pay-to-play athletic fees.

• Restructure the fifth-grade music program.

• Eliminate Spanish instruction in grades one and two.

• Eliminate sections and increase class sizes to contractual limits.

• Cut two elementary school PACE teachers.

• Eliminate one assistant principal at each high school.

• Cut the theater budget.

• Eliminate four English Language Learner tutors, an ELL coordinator, an algebra coach, a curriculum coordinator, a career development facilitator and three custodial coordinators.

• Cut four counselors.

• Eliminate two bus runs and reduce high school shuttles.

• Modify the cleaning schedule.

“It’s a shame that problems always seem to be solved by people simply doing their job,” said resident Bruce Bloomingdale. “You (Troy School District staff) are the best of the best.”

Fowler said there have been no teacher layoffs in the district since 1992. “We’ve been struggling since 2002 with lack of revenue and flat revenue from the state of Michigan,” she said.

 “I feel we have a fabulous program, and we’re at the top of our game,” Fowler said. “Now we have to look at reducing staff.”

Mike Adamczyk, assistant superintendent for business services, said that at this point, the district will plan that the 20j funding will not be reinstated for the next budget year.

He noted that the numbers were based on no salary increases to any labor group.

“This is very difficult and sobering,” said Troy Board of Education President Wendy Underwood. “The budget, unfortunately, cannot be built on hope. This is a process. We have not adopted the budget. That will be in June.”

Fowler and district staff will host an informational meeting 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 15 at Athens High School, 4333 John R.

Information is available on the district’s Web site, www.troy.k12.mi.us.

You can reach Staff Writer Terry Oparka at toparka@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1054.