For the past few months, district leaders have been planning next year’s budget for our school district.  At the first budget committee meeting on May 17, the superintendent announced plans to reduce staff in several areas. 

     Before decisions were made, the budget committee conducted a survey to see where they thought priorities in the budget should be placed. The top priority was increasing the budget for staff to allow for salary increases. This item is projected to cost $3 million. The second most important subject was increasing custodial staff. $70 thousand has been projected for in the budget per one full-time equivalent staff. The third most important topic was adopting k-12 Math curriculum in classrooms and which would be around $1.2 million

     Due to funding restrictions, the district is proposing reducing the staff count by eliminating 12 certified staff and eight classified staff. Three and a half full-time equivalent (FTE) staff have been reduced. Three district office positions have been eliminated. Curriculum adoptions have been put on hold as a cost-saving measure. Transfer to the food service program has been removed.

     Classified workers had a proposed adjustment along with custodial FTE to be increased by two positions. Transportation FTE has stayed stagnant, Educational assistants have been reduced, and compensation for classified has been increased, especially at the top steps of the scale, according to superintendent Andy Gardner.

     To be more specific, certified and admin staff reductions consist of four elementary teachers’ FTE reduced, four middle school teachers FTE reduced, four high school FTE reduced, five DO positions reduced and 3.5 TOSA positions reduced.

     All meetings are open to the public and are live-streamed. To participate visit Greater Albany Public Schools’ youtube channel to stream any past and/or upcoming meetings.