Now that the Batesville Community School Corp. is getting $582,137 less than what was expected in 2010 due to state budget cuts, administrators are watching dollars like hawks.

Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts told trustees March 15 that 17.4 percent of the general fund was encumbered in January and February, higher than the 16.2 percent two-month goal, but in January there were three pay periods instead of the customary two, he explained.

Roberts said the general fund will be most affected by the revenue shortfall. About 88 percent of its dollars are used to pay employee wages and benefits. Seventy percent of that is tied to the certified staff master contract. Negotiations between BCSC and the Batesville Educators Association for 2009-10 and 2010-11 contracts took place March 17 and will continue March 30-31.

The superintendent reported, “We have tossed around some ideas of a retirement incentive.” If a seasoned teacher retires and is replaced with a new one, cost savings result, Roberts pointed out. He said other school corporations are not replacing retirees, which would mean fewer teachers, but BCSC will not do that.

Now administrators are studying maintenance, custodial and technology positions in its money-saving effort.

“Extracurriculars will suffer” from the cutbacks, too, Roberts predicted. At the last Athletic Council meeting, attendees learned “we will be looking to not fill some coaches' positions.” Athletic director Mark Ferguson reminded coaches to be conservative in charging participants for uniforms and other equipment. Some Hoosier schools have had to turn to the “pay to play” philosophy where athletes are charged for bus transportation, coaches’ stipends and more. “We're trying to avoid that at all costs.”

Roberts wants to create a community committee to assist in reviewing financial decisions and especially will pick the brains of citizens with different perspectives.

A committee most recently met March 4 to review the K-12 grading scale. Officials want learning assessment to be more consistent, such as grades given by teachers in the same grade. Parents and students can give opinions online by completing a quick survey on their preferred grading scale. They can go to a school's Web site and hit the link www.surveymonkey.com/s/M5P5P 39.

Attendee Ned Rogers, whose daughter graduated from Batesville High School, pleaded, “Please keep the grading scale tight, high and hard. Life is not easy. College is not easy. Our kids need to know that something worth attaining is worth working for. It would be a real shame if we relaxed” the grading scale.

Just when the new state superintendent of public instruction decided not to give waivers for days when schools are closed, a bad winter resulted in nine missed days.

Administrators discussed alternatives, such as Saturday or spring break makeup days, but were “afraid attendance would not be very good.” After listening to feedback from the community, they advised trustees to approve using Good Friday, April 2, then extending school days through Wednesday, June 2, which they did. That puts the last two makeup days after the Saturday, May 29, graduation.

Roberts said because Good Friday is a religious holiday, “if parents need to take their children out of school that day, they certainly have that option.”

Mike Cambron, whose son graduated from BHS, has volunteered to start a Bicycle Club there. The superintendent said BCSC educators are “very concerned about the health and well-being of students and staff and, in particular, learning lifelong ways to take care of yourself. It would be a welcome activity.” The club is approved pending BCSC attorney Doug Wilson's review.





SUBSTANCE ABUSE POLICY MAY BE REVISED

- The first reading of an updated substance abuse policy took place. If approved, bus drivers would face more specific expectations and disciplinary procedures, including termination, for any positive alcohol or controlled substance test. Buildings and grounds director Tim Hunter said random tests in the morning or afternoon are done several times throughout the year after names are drawn. Roberts added other tests are performed on a suspicion basis.