The Lake Orion Community Schools? Board of Education hopes to avoid budget cuts in the coming year. But given the state of the economy, they’ve begun to look into the possibility.
As such, the board recently appointed two committees to look into some cost saving measures through scheduling options, one at the high school level and one at the middle school level.
The committees presented their preliminary findings to the board at last week’s school board meeting.
‘The reason for these committees is to plan ahead, so, if we have to make these changes, everybody is ready,? said Board President Leeann Bartley.
Superintendent Christine Lehman said much of the decision on funding is out of the board’s hands.
‘We’re in a shell game here with what the state is going to do,? she said.
Board members noted that any of the potential changes being discussed would not take effect until fall of 2008 and would require more research along the way.
The high school is currently on a ‘block? format, in which students have four 88-minute classes each day and teachers teach three blocks with one designated planning session.
If a change is needed, the committee recommended pursuing a ‘modified block? format, in which students would have three 88-minute blocks and two shorter ones of 41-minutes (known as ‘skinnies?). Teachers would teach three blocks plus a skinny in this format, though the committee noted that language in the existing contract would have to be changed.
The ‘modified? format would trim full-time jobs from 120 to 104 at the high school and, after the first year of implementation, would save the district around $1 million a year.
‘We’re aware that we’re bound by the economy and we’ll do what we need to do,? said LOHS Principal and committee member Todd Dunckley. ‘The modified block format is the preferred one because of the cost savings.?
The committee also noted that changing to a ‘modified block? format, as opposed to some of the other options that were considered, would allow for a smooth transition back to the traditional ‘block? format down the road.
‘Regardless of economics, we like to examine our schedule every few years,? Dunckley said.
Everyone, including the committee, agreed that status quo would be ideal.
‘In Lake Orion, we pride ourselves on having well-rounded students and we want them to take electives,? Assistant Superintendent and committee member David Beiter said, noting the current format best fits that philosophy.
That being said, Bartley noted that the board has had discussions about the ‘modified? format for a number of years.
Dunckley added that the various departments would have input on how the ‘skinnies? would be set up, if a change were implemented.
‘That will only take about a semester to figure out, in my thinking,? he said.
At the middle school level, Assistant Superintendent Ken Gutman and all three middle school principals presented three different plans.
They recommended ‘Plan A,? which incorporates ‘teams? with staff team meetings multiple times a week.
‘We are recommending Plan A because the plan preserves some of the parts we have with the middle school plan,? said Waldon Principal Heidi Kast.
The plan would cut middle school staff by 10 positions and save nearly $650,000 after the first year of implementation.
‘It seems at this point that plan A is a no-brainer,? Bartley said.
The next step for both committees is to solicit input from school staff and community members.
All involved agreed that the best plan of all would be to put both plans on the shelf.
‘We are hoping to never have to make any of these changes,? said Board Vice President Bob Gritzinger.