City district seeks cuts to save cash

By Christy Watson

June 14, 2000 Web posted at: 2:11 PM EDT (1811 GMT)

OKLAHOMA CITY (Daily Oklahoman Online) -- The Oklahoma City School District is looking to suck in its administrative gut in what school officials are predicting will be an "extremely tight" 2000-01 budget year.

Two top administrators won't be replaced, including Deputy Superintendent Vern Moore, who took a superintendent's job in Missouri. Debbie Sharp, the district's budget director, said Moore's salary will be used to pay Bill Weitzel, who is expected to be named the district's chief executive officer July 1. John Butchee, who is retiring as director of the 21st Century Learning Centers grant, also won't be replaced.

Acting Superintendent Guy Sconzo said the district also may trim its professional development budget, which includes travel to conferences, for central office administrators. Other administrative costs could be cut.

"If we're going to cut back, this is the place where we need to do it," Sconzo said.

Sharp said the district is suffering from two bad fiscal years, and an unfunded $1.6 million increase in the teacher retirement administration fee doesn't help an already tight budget. The district also must keep former Superintendent Marvin Crawford on the payroll as part of a $320,000 contract buyout.

Teachers will get a $3,000 raise and related benefit increases approved by the Legislature, but the preliminary budget doesn't include pay increases for other employees. Sharp said that could change as board members review the budget in the next few weeks. The board will be asked to approve a temporary budget June 19 but it has until Sept. 1 to come up with final numbers. The preliminary operating budget will be $191.6 million.

Sconzo said the district has assigned teachers conservatively to meet state requirements but plans to add five library specialists and eight elementary school counselors.

Board Vice President Mike Chandler wants administrators to find up to $1.5 million in possible cuts, even though the preliminary budget projects only a $500,000 cushion between expenses and revenue. Sharp didn't know where more cuts might be made.

Board member Ron Bogle said central office administrators and even board members may need to be "uncomfortable" so more money can be directed to classrooms. Among his suggestions was developing more stringent board travel policies.

Board members also want more detailed information about how much four new charter schools will cost. Two of the charter schools -- Independence Middle School and Western Village Elementary -- are existing schools and shouldn't cost the district much extra. But Sharp said the other charter schools -- ASTEC Charter Middle School and Justice Alma Wilson Seeworth Academy Charter School -- could cost $615,000.

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