Board Rejects Superintendent’s Recommendation For Budget Cuts

Superintendent Sammy Higdon stressed the importance of making tough financial decisions during Monday night’s board meeting. – Photo by Jack Gurner

By Jack Gurner
Reporter

WATER VALLEY – District School Board members voted 3-2 Monday night to reject over a million dollars in budget cuts recommended by Superintendent Sammy Higdon for the 2010-2011 school year.

Board member Dr. Steve Edwards made the motion “that we don’t accept this proposal at this time.” Edwards, Casey Washington, and Pierce Epes voted for the motion to reject. Board President Lamar Burgess and Taylor Trusty voted against.

Higdon had presented his proposal for over a million dollars in cuts at the Feb. 1 meeting. At that time he explained to board members that superintendents across the state had been told by State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tom Burnham to prepare for a 15 percent cut in funds.

Before the Monday night vote, Higdon once again outlined his proposed cuts and went over the figures which he said add up to over 1.6 million over two years.

“Last year we cut $456,000. Fourteen people also lost their jobs. But, it was something that had to be done,” he said. “Many of these people who lost their job are those who can least afford to lose a job. Your cafeteria workers, your bus drivers, your teaching assistants.”

“It’s not easy and it’s not pleasant. I looked at what we could do to not affect our core programs. Because those programs are what we are here for… and that’s student learning, academic achievement.”

The Superintendent said that he had talked with 35 people who are affected by the proposed cuts. “Every one of those positions is of value to this district. Every one can be justified.”

“But, choices have to be made,” he continued. “I didn’t spend a week or two with this. I spent months with this. The numbers are what they are. We can maintain the integrity of our academic core programs with these cuts…and survive.”

Higdon said that the board told him not to use the term “poor” when talking about the school district and instead use “economically disadvantaged” when talking to the newspaper. “I understand that. It sounds better. The reality of it is we are poor.”

“No one likes to raise taxes. We’re going to ask for seven percent. Well, seven percent is only $92,000,” he said. “I should have been raising (taxes) four or five percent every year. But, I know only 15 to 20 percent of the people in this community pay taxes. But, I’ll be honest with you, that was a mistake on my part.”

“I’m suggesting that doesn’t happen again. I’d get it up to 46 mills regardless of whether I’m paying more taxes or not. That’s my advice to the board.”

“Now, we can play with this,” Higdon said, referring to his budget cut proposals.

He then explained that changes could be made, but that all the positions being affected were important. “They all have a face,” he said. “And they all have value or we wouldn’t have them in the first place.”

“We’re asking our teachers to do more with less. We’ve cut their supplies and materials. We’ve cut their assistants. But, we’re still going to do better on the tests.”

“Everyone on this list will have to do more. But, there is nothing wrong with that because we have the type of people who will do more with less.”

“Y’all have a difficult position. It’s a small community. We go to church together. We see them in the grocery store. We’re married to some of them and related to others. We went to school with some. I understand that. As a small community, it is personal.”

“Leadership is about courage,” Higdon concluded. “Anybody can lead when things are going well. When you are in a situation like ours, you actually have to work and you have to have a plan. This is the plan and it’s not easy and everybody’s opinion can be different on this issue.”

After the Monday night vote, Burgess said that the board should schedule a work session to discuss the cuts. “I think we all need to go over these recommendations so that we can all get a clear understanding of what the proposals are.”

Higdon said that board members should keep in mind that he had brought out his proposals early. “I gave it to y’all seven weeks ago. At the last board meeting I made it public.”

“I met with my entire staff and went over these proposals. The reason for that is so the teachers won’t hear the rumors. They know what I am presenting. And, too, so they don’t have to worry if anything else is going to happen.”

Higdon added that the staff needs to be able to focus on what’s important for the three months left in the school year.

“We just can not continue…well, you can put it off as long as you want to. You can do that now,” he said.

Washington interjected that he had a proposals he could make that would save the district $550,000. “But I have not presented it to you because I felt it needed to be presented before the board. I wasn’t prepared before tonight.”

“I think we need to go ahead and do it before the next week,” Epes added.

The board members agreed to a special session the next night, Tuesday, beginning at 6:30. A vote on the budget cuts is expected at the next regular meeting on Monday, March 1.