Springboro District Cost Cutting Ideas (ONLY)

Let's start putting all of our district cost cutting ideas in this thread so they are easy to find. Enter your ideas, supporting documents and, rationale ONLY.

Link to & discuss them in the other forum, let keep this forum clean with cost cutting ideas only!

Here are just a few ideas off the top of my head to get the conversation flowing and none of which, that I see would deteriorate from educating the children - which should be the number one focus:

(1) Eliminate paid assistant coaching positions; volunteer only. Head coaches are paid only. Also, we should not be creating "jobs" for individuals that we want solely as coaches for sports. I see that happening a lot. They are hired in as a counselor or a teacher's aide. Stop it.

(2) Look at numbers of janitorial, kitchen staff, and other ancillary personnel at each school building. If there were able to be "20 janitorial positions" being eliminated in February, then we have a heck of a lot of janitors on our staff. I would think there would be 1-2 janitors only per school but I think we should look at contracting out janitorial service to save salaries and benefits.

(3) Eliminate many supplemental contracts for teachers. Teachers should be able to assistant new teachers, go with their classes to DC or Camp Kern, or mentor students through clubs without additional pay. Once you start paying for everything, then they keep asking for me. Now it is being paid to watch the commons area because students arrive early and stay late because high school busing was eliminated.

(4) Look at secretarial support at each school. One secretary per school; perhaps two at the JHS and HS.

(5) If High School busing is continued to be eliminated, this time, reconfigure the routes and only have on paid staff those full-time bus drivers you need. No more keeping everyone on the paid books with reduced hours! You've made this decision, now eliminate those positions. They will have to go on substitute status.

(5) Speaking of substitute status, when these union contracts and those of teachers, janitorial, kitchen, and other contracted employees come up for review, it seems a pattern that employees automatically call in sick from work....a lot. My kids always seemed to have a substitute bus driver. I don't know if their contracts say they get 12 sick days or whatever per year, but if you have it in there they will take it and then we are paying for substitutes. Go to a PTO type system instead.

(6) Look at administrative staff personnel. I believe there are six individuals working under the director in the financial office. Make sure each of these positions is really being utilized and needed. Tough times call for tough decisions and this is just one area.

(7) Contract out lawn care again saving retirement and benefit costs.

(8) Look at the arrangement with the paid school resource officer and the cost of the DARE program.

(9) Look at all extra-curricular clubs and the costs associated with those. The kids' families should be helping to pay for these activities not the taxpayers.

(10) Look at the cost in the school lunch programs and redesigning a more efficient way to do this and more nutritious cost effective menus. I think most people would rather have all food programs eliminated, in other words kids must bring their own lunches, than school busing.

I guess that will get the ball rolling. I don't have an exact figure on what doing these 10 things would save, but my guess is that it would be enough to not require another tax levy for the foreseeable future.

How about the seven assistants to the head of curriculum? How about the person moved over to register new students? Making 70+/yr, job elimiated and moved (saved) over to do this job a secreatary could do? 250 new kids year/70k...you do the math. There are a lots of jobs that could be consolidated, but they are being "protected" by the administration. Dig deep...keep searching...demand accoutability...these type of positions need to be cut before the token cuts of kitchen help and janitors.

One more thought..Ask the administration to break down the school into divisions..example treasurer office, athletics, transportation, etc. Under each divison list all employee's that report to that manager. I bet those consise lists would open some eyes to the "fat" in the budget.

look deeper wrote:

How about the seven assistants to the head of curriculum? How about the person moved over to register new students? Making 70+/yr, job elimiated and moved (saved) over to do this job a secreatary could do? 250 new kids year/70k...you do the math. There are a lots of jobs that could be consolidated, but they are being "protected" by the administration. Dig deep...keep searching...demand accoutability...these type of positions need to be cut before the token cuts of kitchen help and janitors.

I agree! In #6 above, I say that we need to look at ALL administrative staff positions to see if they are needed and I just cited the financial office as one example. Even if one position was eliminated from each area, you can see what the cumulative effect will be.

As you have pointed out, many may not really be needed and could be consolidated. There is a reason Springboro Community Schools is the #1 employer in our community - when they have the money they continue to add and add positions, many of which are not in the core ranks of teachers. The problem lies with each of these positions has benefits and a retirement plan associated with each and each gets raises each year so the costs continue to rise.

No, I don't think that just the janitorial and kitchen staff should be looked at, obviously, but every area. They will want to look at administrative staff positions lastly, and those should probably be the first to look at.

How about the seven assistants to the head of curriculum?(quote)

Wow...I can't see how they can justify this. If we walked through their offices on any given work day of the week, would we find eight hours of dedicated work happening? Or would we find staring at a computer screen reading e-mails?

Appears too many jobs at the school seem to be deemed "protected" or an "entitlement" due to loyality. I wonder how fast these protected jobs would disappear if new leaders were brought in??

Here's the truth; 85% of the school's budget is the staff. Unfortunately, if true progress is to be made, it the staff amd/or their benefits that will have to cut cut. No one really wants to go there...but is there really a choice??

Here's another savings idea: A few years ago we built and STAFFED 2 of the largest elementary schools in the State. The schools were overbuilt in size so that we could "grow" into them and as enrollments grow.

I believe that we are only using 70-75% capacity of those schools. perhaps we could shut one down one of them for a few years and consolidate into the other. This would show HUGE SAVINGS.(Unfortunately at the cost of losing many teachers.) When you think about it, in a very short time period we went from our schools on st rt 741 to two huge underutilitzed schoools with LOTS of new teachers/admin to fill these schools...and people wonder why the levy's keep coming..

look deeper wrote:

Here's the truth; 85% of the school's budget is the staff. Unfortunately, if true progress is to be made, it the staff amd/or their benefits that will have to cut cut. No one really wants to go there...but is there really a choice??
Here's another savings idea: A few years ago we built and STAFFED 2 of the largest elementary schools in the State. The schools were overbuilt in size so that we could "grow" into them and as enrollments grow.
I believe that we are only using 70-75% capacity of those schools. perhaps we could shut one down one of them for a few years and consolidate into the other. This would show HUGE SAVINGS.(Unfortunately at the cost of losing many teachers.) When you think about it, in a very short time period we went from our schools on st rt 741 to two huge underutilitzed schoools with LOTS of new teachers/admin to fill these schools...and people wonder why the levy's keep coming..

YOU are right the school buildings have been overbuilt. School board members discussed doing away with one of the buildings a couple of monthe ago. I haven't heard anymore talk about the subject.

agreed. The school board looked but took no action. I (we) can only hope that there's at least one board member who can and will come out publicly and talk about REAL cuts. Too much discussion in executive sessions. They need to talk openly at their work sessions if they are to move in the right direction with community support.

Shuting down a building is alot better than selling it. There should be a district rule that no property such as buildings or land can be sold or given away without voter approval.

Bernie, I don't want them to sell the building, just put it in mothballs a couple years while we get our spending in control.

OK, to comment on CCM suggestions:

1. That is a good start. I would hope there would be more volunteers. I would expand that to all activities.

2. 1 or 2 janitors per building is unrealisitic. You would have really dirty schools. Many of the janitors come early and stay late after school is out. I do know they get paid extra for school events such as sports ect. Now whether the school is charging for it is another case. Classified help should have to pay for some benefits. Contracting out is a bad idea. It will cost you more in the long run.

3. Agree. Some supplimentals like Desination Imagination pay so little they should be made volunteer anyway.

4. Tend to agree. I am not sure what the work load is. Are they full time?

5. PTO system? Parent teacher org? I don't understand.

6. Agree.

7. It is already contracted out to Hendersons Turf Farm. At least at the Jr. and High School that I know.

8. This program was a good idea when it was started. I think it should be looked at again to see if it is doing anymore good. There probably is some fat.

9. Good idea.

10. The school is part of a buying group with other schools. That gets negtiated every year I think. It would be good to study what is being done food service wise though.

That's my input.

Keep asking the tough questions and dig deeper. Ask how much it cost to run the Transportation Dept or the Treasurers Dept.,etc, etc. If you break it down and compare perecentages of budget agaist other areas of operations within the school budget, it starts to make it transparent where the money is being spent. The more you break it down, the easier is it for the public to understand. Believe me when I tell you, it is very hard to educate the public. They only listen when it affect "them" ie: busing, all day kindergarten and they have a short attention span.

Bernie wrote:

OK, to comment on CCM suggestions:
1. That is a good start. I would hope there would be more volunteers. I would expand that to all activities.
2. 1 or 2 janitors per building is unrealisitic. You would have really dirty schools. Many of the janitors come early and stay late after school is out. I do know they get paid extra for school events such as sports ect. Now whether the school is charging for it is another case. Classified help should have to pay for some benefits. Contracting out is a bad idea. It will cost you more in the long run.
3. Agree. Some supplimentals like Desination Imagination pay so little they should be made volunteer anyway.
4. Tend to agree. I am not sure what the work load is. Are they full time?
5. PTO system? Parent teacher org? I don't understand.
6. Agree.
7. It is already contracted out to Hendersons Turf Farm. At least at the Jr. and High School that I know.
8. This program was a good idea when it was started. I think it should be looked at again to see if it is doing anymore good. There probably is some fat.
9. Good idea.
10. The school is part of a buying group with other schools. That gets negtiated every year I think. It would be good to study what is being done food service wise though.
That's my input.

You might be right about the janitorial staff required. Obviously, there would need to be more at larger schools, but at the smaller elementary schools I would think 2 would be sufficient. At least in my day, 1 was sufficient and he managed to get everything cleaned.

I wouldn't discount contracting out janitorial services. I think it would save money as there would be no retirement or benefits to be paid. If we can contract out lawn services, you can contract out janitorial and kitchen services and even things like school nurses. Most major corporations contract out and do not have paid ancillary employees like janitors on their staff. You might be surprised how much this would save annually and I would think contract employees would do just fine on emptying trash cans and cleaning floors after hours.

PTO means "Paid Time Off." Most companies use this nowadays instead of sick leave. You earn so many hours per month, such as 14, and when you are sick or want a vacation day you take it out of this allotment. It puts a stop to people just taking a mandatory sick day every month because it is in their contract. People would rather save up the days for paid vacation.

This was just a start for discussion. What are your ideas to add?

Short term I would start cutting fat at the Administration Level. I this age of better productivity with less of a work force why can't the schools do the same?

Do what Deep Looker suggests, get a review of all departments and see what can or cannot be trimmed.

Get the contracts negotiated better so the SEA shoulders more of the burden.

Just an idea - how about going back to grade level schools? It makes no sense to have 2 separate schools for the same grades. Why not consolidate at the two new schools, have 1 for K-3, another for 4-6, close Jonathan Wright, Clearcreek and the Intermediate. All those schools are older and probably have much higher heating and cooling costs. Rent or sell them. Plus, have ONE (1) Principal per school - no more East and West. You can get a couple assistants if you need. Save on those "Lead Teacher" supplemental contracts too.
Also, look at partnering with Lebanon or the JVS on some curriculum items. Why re-create the wheel . Use the Warren ESC to join with other county schools. Share costs of county-wide programs instead of always trying to compete with other county schools.

Dont Ask My Name wrote:

Just an idea - how about going back to grade level schools? It makes no sense to have 2 separate schools for the same grades. Why not consolidate at the two new schools, have 1 for K-3, another for 4-6, close Jonathan Wright, Clearcreek and the Intermediate. All those schools are older and probably have much higher heating and cooling costs. Rent or sell them. Plus, have ONE (1) Principal per school - no more East and West. You can get a couple assistants if you need..

What a great idea!! Has this ever been discussed??

Dont Ask My Name wrote:

Just an idea - how about going back to grade level schools? It makes no sense to have 2 separate schools for the same grades. Why not consolidate at the two new schools, have 1 for K-3, another for 4-6, close Jonathan Wright, Clearcreek and the Intermediate. All those schools are older and probably have much higher heating and cooling costs. Rent or sell them. Plus, have ONE (1) Principal per school - no more East and West. You can get a couple assistants if you need. Save on those "Lead Teacher" supplemental contracts too.
Also, look at partnering with Lebanon or the JVS on some curriculum items. Why re-create the wheel . Use the Warren ESC to join with other county schools. Share costs of county-wide programs instead of always trying to compete with other county schools.

I love your ideas! We can only hope the BOE is reading....Keep the idea's coming!

Brilliant wrote:

<quoted text>
What a great idea!! Has this ever been discussed??

The cost savings would be substantial because most of the staff positions would be cut from the closed school in addition to things like heating and air conditioning. I don't know if it would be feasible; however, to move all students from one building to the other, as I've outlined below. I am a numbers person, what can I say!

Just to use Five Points Elementary as an example, they house grades 2-5 there in two wings, approximately 35 classrooms total. As an estimate if there are 22 students in each class, this is 770 students. Can 770 students be consolidated at the other grades 2-5 building - Dennis Elementary? I wouldn't think so. Although there may be capacity for one or two more classrooms per grade, if with getting the class size up to 30 students, there would be too many.

So I think the reason "massive" cost cutting things like this are not discussed are (1) they are not feasible; but (2) more importantly, the schools do not wish to consolidate and shrink in size. They do not wish to lay off any teachers or administrative staff! They wish to grow! Also (3) is the financial situation such that a drastic cost-cutting move is even needed? Listening to them at times you would think so, but it seems like small but significant cost reductions may be efficient to make the budget. They will have to tell us.