District 13 Considers Layoffs, Early Retirements

District 13 school officials have so far slashed $181,659 from the district's 2011-2012 budget, while adding $354,044 in revenue to reduce the overall expected budget increase from 6.25 percent to 4.58 percent, or $33,370,193.

But under pressure to cut spending further, superintendent Susan Viccaro on Wednesday night asked the school board whether she should consider sending non-renewal notices to the dozens of non-tenured teachers in the district.

In other words, layoffs.

Viccaro said other school districts in the state use non-renewal "as a precaution, not knowing where [a] budget is going to be," but said the practice had not been implemented during her tenure as superintendent.

"I'm thinking that we need to establish that kind of a practice," she said, after being asked by board members for guidance on how to further cut spending.

Viccaro, who said the district employs between 35 and 45 non-tenured teachers, is required by state law to send out non-renewal notices by April 1.

"I think we have to do it this year, because if this budget doesn't pass we don't have anywhere else to go," board member Kerri Flanagan said.

Board member Dr. Joseph Ochterski recommended that the district provide support to teachers given the notice.

Viccaro said she planned to review the proposal with the District's legal counsel, so no decision was made.

SAVINGS MADE

School officials said the bulk of the aforementioned savings - $165,000 - was made by delaying projects in the district until the following fiscal year (2012-2013).

The additional revenue is expected to come from the federally funded Education Job Fund.

"We're still not 100 percent sure whether that money will be there as it's supposed to be. Every indication is that it will be," board chair Thomas Hennick said cautiously, indicating that state and federal officials had yet to allocate the funds.

One of the most talked about proposals of the night - an early retirement package - would not have an impact on the 2011-2012 budget proposal.

Using guidelines required by the State of Connecticut's Teachers' Retirement Board, as many as 38 teachers in the district would qualify for the early retirement package according District 13 business manager Ron Melnick, who said the plan would cover health care costs and salaries.

"Are there savings? Potentially," he said.

Superintendent Susan Viccaro urged caution, saying that the district would have a difficult time if a large number of experienced teachers retired at once.

"You have a lot of institutional knowledge, you have a lot of your leaders, you have a lot of mentors in the district. Any time you have a large retirement it has a profound impact overall on the district," she said, while proposing that a committee of board members and members of the teachers' union be formed to work towards a possible deal.

Melnick said the district is also looking closely at transportation costs, specifically bus routes and schedules, for potential savings.

BUDGET SURVEY

Board member Nancy Boyle has created a budget survey for residents of Durham and Middlefield. The survey can be found on District 13's website, starting Friday