Published: May 16, 2008 01:36 am            

Trustees table trimming two jobs

After spending more than three hours in two executive sessions Thursday night, the Huntsville Independent School District board tabled a proposal to cut two administrative positions.

According to newly appointed board president Riley Tilley, the proposal — which would have eliminated both the secondary attendance specialist position and the director of Career and Technology Education position — will not be reconsidered within the next school year.

Trustees voted 7-0 to table the proposal.

However, according to HISD Superintendent Richard Montgomery, other means of reducing expenses have been approved by the board since a financial exigency was declared in February, and further savings options may still be applied.

“The proposal we discussed tonight will not be brought back at all this year,” Tilley said. “We’ve tabled both of them indefinitely.”

With the option of eliminating the two administrative positions disregarded, Montgomery said the board has other options available which could reduce district expenses.

“Our goal is to cut expenses by at least $2 million going into next year,” he said. “Our other options for reaching that goal could include reducing teaching personnel, meaning actual teachers, instructional assists or other administrative positions.

“Our revenue side is pretty static because it’s based on our tax rates and a set funding formula, but we’re going to keep looking for grants and other sources of income to help out with finances.”

Montgomery also said the district will be cutting expenses by not filling a number of vacant employment positions, including teaching and administrative positions.

“We have about 33 or 34 teaching positions that aren’t currently filled and won’t be filled for next year, and that’s just reducing our staff by attrition,” he said. “Also, there is one assistant principal’s position at the high school that will probably not be filled, either.

“That will mean the principal will have to do some reorganizing of duties among the remaining assistant principals. The tasks and work required will not be reduced, but there will be fewer people to complete them.”

Montgomery said it was still not determined whether or not the staff members who receive additional responsibilities will be given raises.

“We haven’t developed our compensation plan for next year yet,” he said. “We’re going to try to start with teaching professionals and provide something besides a step increase for them.

“If we can make adjustments for our principals or assistant principals, that will be looked at as well, but our first compensation goes to our teachers.”

        

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