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Financial Commission hears proposed cuts plan



Officials seeking state auditor’s input on deficit spending

COVENTRY — The Financial Planning and Supervision Commission overseeing Coventry Local Schools as it works to be released from the state’s fiscal emergency status is looking for clarification from the State Auditor’s Office regarding proposed cuts needed to reduce deficit spending and a positive five-year forecast.
Both district and commission officials have stated in the past that Coventry Schools must do both — eliminate deficit spending and produce a positive five-year forecast — to be released from fiscal emergency. The district has been in fiscal emergency since December 2015.
During the March 3 meeting, however, member Jack Pierson discussed via a cellphone conversation, with a chart provided before the meeting to other members, that showed many school districts in the area have deficit spending in their five-year forecasts. According to the chart, these districts include Green, Manchester, Norton and Springfield, as well as the Portage Lakes Career Center in Green.
Pierson added the deficit spending rule is different for districts under fiscal emergency, but commission members expressed a desire to seek clarification on the matter from the State Auditor’s Office.
The decision could impact two tiers of proposed cuts presented by Superintendent Lisa Blough at the meeting.
Blough had been asked at the last commission meeting to prepare two sets of cuts — one needed to eliminate deficit spending and another to be used should the renewal of a $1.98 million emergency levy on the March 17 Primary Election ballot fail.
According to officials, proposed Tier I cuts — to be adopted June 30 to reduce deficit spending — include: the reduction of one administrative position, four teachers and three classified positions, as well as the reclassification of three others, for a projected savings of $628,541.
Proposed Tier II cuts — to be adopted July 1 should the levy renewal fail — include the reduction of one administrative position and 14 teachers, the elimination of all middle school sports and cuts to busing costs for other sports, as well as the elimination of educational trips and after-school clubs and activities, for a total of just over $1 million, according to officials.
Blough stated that cutting $1 million from an already lean district is “difficult” and would have a “devastating” impact on students.
“We are hoping the levy will pass, and we will have to face only the Tier I cuts,” she added.
Commission members decided to table an addendum to the district’s Financial Recovery Plan that includes these actions and others until they hear from the Auditor’s Office and after a workshop to review the proposed changes that are aimed at helping Coventry Schools become fiscally solvent over all five years of the five-year forecast. District officials are required to present this forecast to the state by May 31.
The commission and district officials will meet March 31 beginning at 4:30 p.m. for a workshop, with a regular meeting to follow, at Coventry Elementary School, located at 3089 Manchester Road.