Shawnee Mission School District, the second largest district in Kansas, announced Monday night plans and details of how it will cut $10 million from its 2010-2011 budget given the current economic uncertainty.

We live tweeted this school board meeting as  @KansasWatchdog with hashtag #usd512 (with corrections made here to the live tweets):

• 07:05 #usd512 Live tweeting from Shawnee Mission School District Board meeting, which was moved to SM West to accommodate large audience.
• 07:06 #usd512 Expecting discussion of how budget cuts may affect school district.
• 07:12 #usd512 SMSD Budget info can be found here http://www.smsd.org/publicinfo/Budget/budget.htm

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 Listen to Open Forum:  Kathy Cook, Jennifer Morris, Sheryl Siegele

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• 07:15 #usd512 Open forum … anyone can speak if you’re not on the agenda. Usually no response from Board, however. 3 minute limit.
• 07:17 #usd512 Kathy Cook, Kansas Families for Education, speaking. “Decisions are not easy decisions.” Calling for tax increases for schools.
• 07:19 #usd512 Jennifer Morris: “We’re told to point to Topeka for fixing funding formula.” Conflict with local control.
• 07:20 #usd512 Morris: “Severe lack of creativity.” Time for community for local control. “Seize the moment”
• 07:21 #usd512 Morris: “We need teachers, parents, local community to work together.” Cuts may lead to people walking away.
• 07:24 #usd512 Sheryl Siegele, president NEA: wants legislators to fulfill constitutional “suitable” education
• 07:25 #usd512 Siegele is president of Shawnee Mission NEA

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Listen to Dr. Gene Johnson’s explanation of the proposed reductions:

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• 07:30 #usd512 Dr. Johnson, superintendent, to give slide show about budget problems.
• 07:31 #usd512 $10.6 million reduction this year; $25 million in reserves; operating budget about $220 million; in the red $16 million this year.
• 07:33 #usd512 Revealing tonight $10 million in proposed cuts. 87% of budget to pay 4100 employees
• 07:34 #usd512 Proposed reduction: 29 FTE (full time equivalent) employees in administration. Operations & Maintenance reduced by 15.
• 07:36 #usd512 FTE reductions: 4 Info services, 2 media services, 2 communications, 1 in six other areas. Reduction of 29 will save $1,447,425
• 07:38 #usd512 4.95 people reclassified to save $70,387 + $242,877. Total Admin/Support reduced 33.45 FTEs for savings of $2,935,949
• 07:40 #usd512 Elementary school reductions: 25 FTEs district wide to save $1,625,000.
• 07:41 #usd512 Eliminate strings for grade 4; orchestra and band only in 10-11. Savings $140,144. Total Elementary Savings 27 FTEs, $1,765,144
• 07:41 #usd512 Middle school reductions: 19 FTEs, $1,235,000 savings
• 07:43 #usd512 High school reductions: 26.0 full time FTEs; savings $1,690,000. Still 18.5 pupil teacher ratio. Reduce 1 counselor per HS
• 07:45 #usd512 high schools: reduce athletic directors to half time; eliminate asst bookkeeper.
• 07:45 #usd512 Arabic and Chinese teachers to be eliminated.
• 07:46 #usd512 Total High School Reductions: 36.5 FTEs, $2,564,209
• 07:48 #usd512 Other district wide reductions include reduce work days for paraprofessionals, Reduce ELL supplies, Eliminate R&D Forum, less travel
• 07:49 #usd512 Total District wide reductions 12.0 FTE, $1,468,133
• 07:50 #usd512 Total Expenditure Reductions: 127.95 FTEs, $9,968,435
• 07:50 #usd512 Statement will be on district web site tomorrow morning
• 07:52 #usd512 Board President Winn: Budget schedule moved up to notify staff that may lose their jobs.
• 07:53 #usd512 Board President Winn: $10 million is firm number “if we’re lucky”. Asking board for comments.
• 07:55 #usd512 Employees losing jobs were notified in private meetings last week
• 07:57 #usd512 Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) of 18.5 only includes teachers in classroom. Class sizes will vary.
• 07:58 #usd512 Holding budget workshops April 26 and May 24
• 07:59 #usd512 Susan Metsker: Asking about “creative thought” for collaboration with local service agencies with cuts in high school counselors?
• 08:01 #usd512 Other agencies also experiencing shortfalls.
• 08:03 #usd512 There are guidelines for parent groups that want to fund positions. Parents not allowed to “purchase” teachers.
• 08:04 #usd512 Larry Winn: We not have unilateral legal authority to do what many would want us to do. [We don't have local control.]
• 08:05 #usd512 Larry Winn: Kids will still excel but may be 3-times more difficult.
• 08:05 #usd512 Reputation will be maintained. Meeting is over.
• 10:52 RT @ryankath: Here’s the full list of $10 million proposed cuts for the Shawnee Mission School District: http://bit.ly/cjH1md

Thanks for retweets and comments from @rubyslipperinks, @amanda4kansas, SSCJoCoKs, and @LaurenArt

Here’s a direct link to the SMSD Proposed Budget Savings:  http://www.smsd.org/documents/budgetrecommendations3810.pdf

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Contact: Earl F Glynn, earl@kansaswatchdog.org, KansasWatchdog.org