A combination of retirements, buyouts, consolidation of positions, job eliminations and job reclassifications has enabled Durango School District 9-R to erase a $1.6 million deficit.
The overall district budget is $38 million.
District Superintendent Dan Snowberger went over the changes with school board members in a work session Tuesday. The moves don’t have to be ratified by board members.
Principals made decisions affecting their particular schools. Snowberger decided districtwide issues.
Elimination of teacher salaries accounted for $1.38 million and shifts of administrative duties cut $145,000. Benefits, calculated independently, more than made up the remainder of the $1.6 million in savings needed to eliminate the deficit.
At the beginning of the downsizing exercise, it was estimated that a balanced budget would cost 24 teaching and administrative jobs. Classified staff positions weren’t on the line because that is where reductions were made last year.
The changes take place this fall.
Here’s the breakdown:
Four jobs involved contract work that is finished.
Five nonprobationary teachers are out of a job because their positions were eliminated. The five are on a priority hiring list in the event jobs for which they are qualified open up.
Six employees accepted either of two financial-incentive plans. The Early Separation Incentive Plan provides 50 percent of a year’s salary for personnel qualified by education and time with the district. The Voluntary Separation Incentive Plan offers less remuneration to a broader range of employees with a lower level of preparation.
Nine teachers still on their three-year probationary status were told they won’t have jobs in the fall.
District administrators took their licks, as well. The most notable job consolidation brought Sunnyside and Florida Mesa elementary schools under one principal. Vanessa Fisher, the principal at Sunnyside, will oversee both campuses with the help of an assistant principal still to be hired. Florida Mesa Principal Lauri Kloepfer is retiring.
Fort Lewis Mesa Principal John Marchino will retain his title, but will divide his time between administrative duties and classroom teaching.
The district assistant superintendent position has been eliminated. Victor Figueroa will remain as director of operations, overseeing facilities, transportation and custodial personnel.
Four programs – drafting, culinary arts, video technology and multimedia – were axed for lack of demand. Pro-Start, a hands-on introduction to the hospitality industry that includes sales, marketing, tourism and culinary skills is expected to escape elimination.
daler@durangoherald.com
