Feb. 17, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information:
Melissa Reeves, mdreeves@jeffco.k12.co.us , Jeffco Public Schools, 303-982-6567
Lynn Setzer, lsetzer@jeffco.k12.co.us , Jeffco Public Schools, 303-982-6810
JEFFCO KEEPS CUTS AWAY FROM THE CLASSROOM FOR THE 2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR
For the second year, Jeffco Public Schools and its employee associations have worked out a tentative budget plan that will save teaching jobs and keep cuts away from the classroom. Participants in the Employee Summit met over two days last week and included members of the Board of Education, employee associations and district leadership.
“Our employees are helping to keep cuts out of the classroom by continuing to take furlough days which equates to $5 million in savings. They are doing that to ensure that our students receive an excellent education in Jeffco,” said Jeffco Superintendent Dr. Cindy Stevenson.
“We asked our community what they valued and it was teachers, along with music, arts, and teacher librarians. I’m pleased to say that we listened and have saved those jobs for at least one more year,” said Lesley Dahlkemper, president of the Jefferson County Board of Education.
The Board of Education will take an additional $5 million from the district’s savings account to help offset reductions for the 2012-2013 school year. The majority of the cuts for the 2012-2013 school year will be from central administration and other support functions.
Here are highlights from the Employee Summit:
- There are no planned reductions to teachers, elementary music teachers, teacher librarians or counselors for the 2012-2013 school year.
- Funding for the district’s Outdoor Lab schools will continue for one more year under a sustainability plan supported by the Outdoor Lab Foundation and the district.
- Free full-day kindergarten will continue for some Jeffco schools.
- The two furlough days implemented last year will continue for the 2012-2013 school year for all Jeffco employees.
- In total, Jeffco employees have taken a three percent compensation reduction over the past two years.
- The outcome of the summit is a tentative recommendation which is subject to approval by the Board of Education.
Year 1- 2012-2013 Proposed Reductions List
“While we were able to save jobs and programs for one more year, that’s not the case for the 2013-2014 school year. We are looking at a loss of more than 600 jobs, including teachers, teacher librarians, music teachers and counselors — everything that our community holds dear. In addition, we will no longer be able to support our Outdoor Lab schools, a program beloved by the community,” said Dahlkemper. Year 2 - 2013-2014 Proposed Reductions List
Summit participants recommended that the school board seriously explore a mill levy override in November 2012 to help offset the planned reductions for 2013-2014.
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