5.9.10 Actual Savings
. MASON – For the first time in Mason School’s history a principal will be overseeing two schools when classes start in August.
. The move is part (of) a $700,000 cost-saving through a thinning of building and central office administrators – many of whom will also start the new school year wearing two hats.
. Mason is the latest in a growing area trend of shaving costs by requiring a few school principals and central office officials to handle double duties that in the past years were performed by two employees.
. The district, one of the top academically rated school systems in Ohio, is eliminating six administrative positions for the 2011-12 school year, officials said.
. “While we know that there will be several new faces in new roles next year, I am confident that the outstanding leaders we have in our schools will continue to make Mason an excellent place to learn,” said Board of Education President Debbie Delp.
. Nearby Little Miami Schools which are insolvent and under state control, will continue to have district officials assigned to two or more jobs.
. In Hamilton County, districts making similar moves include Finneytown, Princeton and Oak Hills. In Clermont County, West Clermont Schools are implementing similar cost-saving moves.
. Among Ohio’s 613 school systems, the annual labor cost for all employees – administrators, teachers and non-instructional staffers – averages 80 percent to 85 percent of yearly operating budgets.
. The new faces in 11,000-student Mason Schools will include superintendent Gail Kist-Kline who takes over for departing Kevin Bright on August 1.
. The personnel moves are the latest of Mason School’s efforts in recent years of cutting million of dollars from its operating budget including $3.6 million through recently eliminating 53 positions district-wide. Twenty were teaching positions.
. The savings are largely why Mason residents will not see a new operating tax on the November ballot, though nearly half of Southwest Ohio’s other school systems are either considering or planning to place tax issues before voters.
. Voters in Mason rejected an operating tax increase last November, the first defeat of a school tax since 1970.
. “We are trying to be responsive to what our community wants,” said Tracey Carson, spokeswoman for Mason Schools.
Source: Mason school staff doubles up on jobs. Other districts also consolidate to save money. By Michael D. Clark The Enquirer 7/2/11 C3
Estimated $750,000 saving
Lakota school officials are studying a proposal that would have kindergarten children attending school all day for two days one week, and three days the next.
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The move, if implemented, would save the district an estimated $750,000 annually by eliminating midday kindergarten bus routes. It would also add five hours of instruction every two weeks.
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‘We started looking at this as a new way of doing business and a way to cut costs.’ said district spokeswoman Laura Kursman. ‘We have to continue to look at ways of doing things differently to reduce our deficit spending.
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Only one other school district in the region – Little Miami in Warren County – has adopted such a plan. It is also in use in the Olentangy Local Schools in suburban Columbus.
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‘The teachers in Olentangy like it better because it provides a greater concentration of time without interruption,’ Stettler said of the topic he’s done on the topic.
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Source: Lakota mulls kindergarten change. By Sue Kiesewetter, Enquirer contributor. . Saturday, January 22, 2011 C3.