The Franklin Township School Board is prepared to slash spending by 13 percent. It is a huge cut that will affect classrooms and sports at all levels.
Proposed cuts spanning academics to athletics are unheard of in Indiana schools, but Franklin Township Schools Superintendent Walter Bourke says they’re unavoidable.
“We are touching the lives of nearly every child, every faculty member, every employee in Franklin Township school corporation,” he said.
Teachers and parents were outraged when cuts were first discussed in November. These are even more drastic.
When the state cut school funding by $300 million last month, Franklin Township’s budget shortfall jumped from $2 million to $6.7 million.
Franklin is closing two elementary schools and eliminating the salaries of all its coaches – even those coaching high school varsity teams.
Athletes will pay to play, but the school hasn’t decided on fees. High school students will pay $375 annually to ride buses.
Inside schools, 54 teachers are being cut. That’s more than one in ten. Six administrative positions are being eliminated (that’s 15 percent).
Although class sizes will increase and summer school and other remediation activities will be reduced, Bourke insists academics aren’t compromised.
“We’ve maintained the core of our good teachers. We’ve maintained our class sizes and that’s where the essence of where great learning takes place,” said Bourke.
But what about the learning occurring on sports courts and fields? The superintendent plans to pay coaches with those pay-to-play fees, fundraising, advertising fees and scholarships. Even naming rights to the football stadium are part of the new financial game plan.
according to wthr.com
