School Board okays $34.8-million cut

Some jobs will be eliminated; others will go unfilled. A decision on summer school is postponed.

By MELANIE AVE

© St. Petersburg Times,
published November 7, 2001

TAMPA -- Hillsborough County School Board members approved $34.8-million in cuts Tuesday night, the beginning of at least two years of what they called painful reductions.

The cuts eliminate 10 administrative positions, leave vacant positions open and abolish four alternative schools for students who have been expelled. Those instead will now attend special programs at schools throughout the district.

Board members delayed recommendations to cut summer school and an out-of-school suspension program until Dec. 11, asking administrators to try to find the $7-million needed to fund the programs.

They also agreed not to approve six charter school applications, including one from former Education Secretary William Bennett's company for a virtual school.

In all, district administrators expect to slash $67-million in programs and positions beginning this school year and extending into next year.

Superintendent Earl Lennard asked the board for approval to begin making the cuts immediately.

"I feel very strongly that if we wait, each day that we wait we will continue to lose the ability to adjust during flight," he said.

Lennard said the cuts are necessary not only because of a downturn in state revenues, but also an increase in costs. The district is expecting $46-million less in revenues and $21-million in increased expenses.

Hillsborough's cuts came after lawmakers ended a special session aimed at addressing a $1.3-billion state shortfall blamed in part on the terrorist attacks. The Legislature doled out $137-million in school cuts, and more are expected during another session called for late November.

On Tuesday, Lennard presented the board with a list of about $42-million in cuts, some of which irked a handful of parents, board members and teachers.

Deputy superintendent Jim Hamilton said efforts were made to protect the classroom and spread the cuts throughout the district.

Parent Jason Mims asked the board to delay the cuts, saying the public should have been given more opportunity to comment.

"I don't think the first time they read about it should be tomorrow morning," he said.

Board member Doris Ross Reddick agreed with two people who begged the board not to cut the out-of-school suspension program, which began in 1996.

Williams Middle School teacher Linda Chappell said the program allowed 8,700 suspended students to continue their work at 13 off-campus sites instead of staying home.

"When I heard this was on the table I was shocked and appalled," she said. "If we take this program away, the parents who are mostly working parents will have no option what to do with their students.

"These students will roam the streets again, unsupervised. They'll probably end up getting into trouble or getting hurt."

Candy Olson also asked administrators to try and find a way to provide a scaled-back summer school and offer electives for motivated children instead of eliminating the whole program.

"I think we need to be careful not to let time or Tallahassee drive us to do things that would be disastrous," she said.

2 agreements on ties to MacDill

The School Board also signed two agreements with MacDill Air Force Base aimed at creating closer ties between the military base and the district, said Robinson High principal Kevin McCarthy.

The first agreement creates a plan for high schools to ease the transfer of military students. Studies show the average high school student whose parents are in the military transfer two times.

The second agreement establishes at Robinson High School the MacDill Aeronautical Academy, which is scheduled to open in August.

The academy will offer students various courses and hands-on training in aerospace. It will be geared toward students wanting to attend college, join the work force after high school and learn more about flight.

Students will be able to attend the school on special assignment throughout the district.

A key part of the academy is the training, internships and job shadowing arrangements at MacDill, McCarthy said.

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

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