Chambersburg school board takes steps to balance budget

April 15, 2010|By JENNIFER FITCH

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- The Chambersburg Area School Board took steps this week to make significant personnel changes to address an anticipated budget deficit that at one time topped $3 million.

The board approved a tentative budget that would leave 38 positions open and eliminate one position.

District spokeswoman Sylvia Rockwood credited a retirement incentive program with helping administrators receive retirement notices earlier than usual. They also received more notices than in an average year, she said.

The eliminated position, an alternative education counselor in the secondary schools, will result in one employee being laid off. He has been notified, Rockwood said.

For the 38 other positions, some will be left open and existing employees will be moved into others, leaving their original positions unfilled, she said.

The administration and board are taking steps to finalize the 2010-11 budget early to notify staff members of position changes by the end of this school year, according to Rockwood.

The position reductions represent 6.6 percent of teachers' overall payroll, 14.6 percent of administration payroll and 6.5 percent of support staff payroll. The retirement incentive provided teachers who announced before Feb. 1 an incentive of $2,000, along with additional money based on their number of years teaching and per diem.

The final budget is scheduled for approval May 12. Drafts include a 5.5 percent property tax increase, along with the closing of Coldbrook Elementary School and a $1 million reduction in supplies.

The version of the budget presented Wednesday by Business Manager Steve Dart showed revenues and expenditures balanced at $105.4 million each.

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