Ripon School News Email Network

May 20, 2009

Staff Cut to Meet State Budget Limits
After the defeat of referendum question #3 by local voters, the Ripon Board of Education reluctantly cut 4 teacher and 3.5 support staff positions in order to meet the $335,000 deficit caused by the state’s revenue limits for schools. The recently vacated positions of media specialist, gifted/talented teacher, and family consumer education teacher will not be filled. Additionally, high school math, science, agriculture, and physical education classes are being cut. Elementary students will receive less classroom assistance with four fewer instructional aides. A course for English Language Learners (ELL) will be added at the middle school and a half-time aide position to provide assistance for ELL students at the high school was also added.

State Aid Reduction Slates 22 Teachers for Layoff Notification
Governor Doyle’s newest budget proposal to cut state aid to schools by 5% will result in a loss of approximately $650,000 to the District for 2009-10. The collective bargaining agreement with the Ripon Education Association contains a May 30 notification deadline for teacher layoffs for the following school year. Accordingly, the administration has developed a list of 22 teachers for precautionary layoff by the Board until the school funding issues are finalized by the state legislature at which time a local budget can be developed. Meetings are now taking place between the REA and the District to discuss changing the layoff notification deadline to June 30.

Pay Freeze for Support Staff
The Board has approved a 2009-10 pay freeze for the District’s support staff whose benefit levels will be maintained by the Board. Support staff without benefits will receive a minimal pay increase comparable to the rise in benefits. The total compensation package is a 2.34% increase. In addition to saving $70,000 annually by shifting health insurance providers, the support staff and administration both have pay freezes for 2009-10.

Federal Stimulus Dollars Not Helpful
The District is receiving federal stimulus dollars, but those funds cannot be used to help with the current budget crisis. Substituting stimulus dollars for budget cuts is not permitted for school districts. The federal stimulus dollars can only be used for creating additional staff positions and paying for additional resources and training for special education and Title I (disadvantaged) programs. The U.S. Department of Education also warns schools who create new positions to avoid a “funding cliff” when the money is pulled away in two years.

Middle School Receives $360,000 Alternative Education Grant
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has awarded an Alternative Education Grant to Ripon Middle School. The $360,000 grant, spread over five years, will help fund the development of additional opportunities for RMS students by converting the small school-within-a-school (SWS) program into a larger Connections Alternative Program. Connections will use state-of-the-art technology and upgraded curriculum to assist struggling students.