Nothing off-limits in school cutbacks

''Everything is up for evaluation'' in coping with a funding shortfall, an official says. That could include reopening union contracts.

By MELANIE AVE

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 10, 2001

TAMPA -- Everything from renegotiating teacher salaries to laying off employees is a possibility as Hillsborough school officials wait to learn just how sizable an anticipated shortfall in state funding will be this year.

Superintendent Earl Lennard announced freezes on hiring and out-of-county travel on Monday. But more serious measures might be needed as the nation's 11th-largest school district prepares for the economic fallout from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"We're looking at all our programs and our staffing and how we spend our money," said assistant superintendent Mike Bookman, who oversees the budget. "As the superintendent said, everything is up for evaluation."

The size of the school cuts will not be known until the state Legislature meets during a special session later this month.

In the meantime, Hillsborough officials have assembled a 24-member budget committee to pinpoint possible savings and cuts. A priority has been placed on protecting employees from layoffs.

"Some people are going to get hurt," said School Board member Glenn Barrington. "That's got to happen. It's just a mess we're going to have to work our way through."

The Florida School Boards Association is sending notice to all 67 districts detailing a state statute allowing them to declare a financial urgency and renegotiate contracts with employee unions if necessary.

With the bulk of district operating budgets spent on salaries, association executive director Wayne Blanton called renewed negotiations a "real possibility" for many districts.

"It's better than laying people off," he said.

But Yvonne Lyons, director of the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association, said opening up contract negotiations "is not something the unions take lightly or districts do lightly." She believes other money-saving measures should be taken first.

"It's not something we have even broached in Hillsborough County," she said. "But two weeks ago, I wouldn't have known what's happening today."

In early August, district and teachers union officials agreed on an average 6 percent salary and benefits increase for Hillsborough's 11,000 teachers. Contract negotiations are continuing with the 3,400 bus drivers, cafeteria workers and maintenance staff.

Hillsborough School Board vice chairman Doris Ross Reddick said employees should be prepared.

"We have to be forever watchful for whatever comes about," she said. "I don't want us to be taken by surprise."

Clear word of the dire times came Monday in a three-page memo from Lennard to principals when he announced an expanded freeze on all hiring to include teachers and bus drivers. He also suspended all out-of-county travel.

But those steps would only save Hillsborough a third of a potential revenue shortfall of about $36.4-million on an operating budget of $958-million.

Estimates show only $12-million would be saved this year if all 550 vacancies went unfilled. Bookman said another $200,000 to $300,000 could be saved from the suspended travel.

The savings from the vacancies is unrealistic, Bookman said, since some of the positions must be filled with workers.

Still, "vacancies would be a significant contribution," he said. "That does represent a big pot of money."

-- Melanie Ave can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or melanie@sptimes.com.

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