DECATUR TOWNSHIP, IN—
Decatur Township Schools join the long list of school trying to make ends meet next year.The school board talked with parents and teachers Wednesday night as they debated major budget cuts. More than $5 million must be slashed from the budget. Some of the those cutbacks could hurt teachers wallets if some board members have their way.
"We're trying to look at the integrity of the classroom and we'll do every thing we can before we cut teachers," a school board member said as he addressed the crowd at Wednesday's public meeting.
In the audience, a crowd of about 200 Decatur Township teachers. They say they hope to help the board find a way to save 60 full time teaching positions.
"Several of the other districts have gone on a line by line basis to look for cracks and places where cuts can be made that don't impact staffing," said high school teacher, Scott Bauseman.
Unless cuts are made now, the Decatur Township School District will have a $5.6 million budget deficit in the fall.
The transportation fund will be short 1.2 million. A proposal for teachers to accept a 5% reduction in salary and benefits would save the district $3 million.
"When you're taking 5% out of teachers salaries as has been proposed you're cutting into their ability for child care and put food on the table," said 5th grade teacher, Kathryn Heath.
"I can speak for the rest of these board members. We're gonna work very had to do the right thing," says Dale Henson, president of the school board.
During a meeting with parents, the board learned that they fear school programs will be cut and they could end up paying participation fees for the ones that are left.
"As parents who are struggling to make it, now we're gonna have to add more and more to our overall fees at our school," says parent Kimberly Ross.
The school board plans to consider the various options presented to them by parents and teachers before making a decision.
They tell Fox59 News, a decision should be reached by the next board meeting in February.
