Saturday, November 28, 2009
The North Kansas City School District recently reduced the number of administrators in its central office to help offset a decline in local and sales tax revenues. Uncertainty about future state funding also led the district to make the cuts, according to information from a recent Associated Press article.
Officials claim the reorganization will save the district about $1 million. Those holding administrative positions will have to re-apply and interview for the remaining jobs.
When asked if the St. Joseph School District will follow suit to help its bottom line, officials gave a "been there, done that" response.
When voters turned down renewing a 63-cent operating levy last April, the district made staff and administration cuts at that time, said Dr. Melody Smith, schools superintendent.
"We cut administrative staff in the spring," she said.
The district eliminated 98 full-time equivalent positions last April. Of those jobs, three administration positions were eliminated and two administrative support positions were cut. Most of the eliminated jobs came from child care-related positions and from the closing of Webster and Neely elementary schools.
"We're already on a low administrative staff ratio," Dr. Smith said.
Doug Flowers, director of human resources for the district, said the North Kansas City district has about twice as many administrators as St. Joseph, which is similar in size.
"In comparing what North Kansas City is doing compared to our district ... they currently have 29 executive-level positions and we have 10," Mr. Flowers said. "Their 29 is going to be cut to 22."
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said the St. Joseph district has 234 students per administrator, with a total enrollment of 11,492 students in 2009. By comparison, North Kansas City has 182 students per administrator, with an enrollment of 17,955 students.
"We've said all along we run a pretty lean administrative team at the district," Mr. Flowers added.
Alonzo Weston can be reached
at alonzow@npgco.com.
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mm1967 says...
What administration positions were cut?I thought all of the cuts came from the schools and not the downtown offices.Please enlighten me to what these positions were.Also did any of them take a cut in salary?Just because the levy has passed Mr Smith has still said we will be out of money in a few years and before the levy is set to expire in 5 years.So it should still be about saving money wherever they can and this is not and I stress not any cuts in the schools.any further cuts need to come out of the downtown offices not in the schools.Ok now I will be waitting to be jumped on by a select few for my opinions and comments.
November 28, 2009 at 7:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
apmastrangelo says...
Now here is an interesting spin on numbers.
NP 28Nov "... they currently have 29 executive-level positions and we have 10," Mr. Flowers said." Note the caveat "executive".
Further stated: "The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said the St. Joseph district has 234 students per administrator, with a total enrollment of 11,492 students in 2009." Seems like that puts the actual number at approximately 49. 11,492/234=49.1.
Also of interest is where the majority of April cuts were made.
"The district eliminated 98 full-time equivalent positions..."
"...three administration positions were eliminated and two administrative support positions were cut. Most of the eliminated jobs came from child care-related positions..." Again note the caveat "support".
The district has received their 63 cent levy and we all know what transpired during its last existence.
The simple math from all this means that out of 98 positions reduced approximately 97% of the cuts were outside of the administrative category and all should understand what that means. The question now awaiting resolution is how the newly approved funding will be structured into the budget and spent.
November 28, 2009 at 9:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
drbjr says...
I'm still trying to figure out why the head of HR in the district has a teaching certificate and was a principal. How does that qualify him for the job? Shouldn't a career HR person be in that job?
Maybe that is a problem with the district. Add a point to the long range plan ... hire people with backgrounds in the area that the position concerns.
November 28, 2009 at 12:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )