March 1 - Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools

Kansan – March 11, 2009Board approves possible staff reductions for next school yearby Nick SloanThe Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education voted tonight to reduce staff across the district for the 2009-10school year. However, if stimulus funds remain in the new state budget, some staff members could return.J.D. Rios, assistant superintendent for human and community resources, told members the move was made inorder to prepare staff members who may lose their positions."Every-one of our (budget possibilities) calls for staff reductions," Rios said. "We have a May 1 deadline andwe need to begin the process. It's hard for (the district) to continue budget planning if we don't get the HumanResources wheel rolling."Under the timeline Rios stated, members of the district's central office who will be cut will be notified thisFriday. Rios and the Human Resources Department will begin the process with individual schools next week.Board President Gloria Willis voted against the measure."I'm concerned that the morale is low," Willis said. "If we go to our people now and say their positions may notbe available, but if we get money they may be – I just don't like that."The cuts are a result of loss of state dollars in the area of education. Depending on whether or not the statereceives education stimulus dollars, some of the listed staff reductions would be invited back.All districts have a May 1 deadline of informing licensed teachers concerning their job availability. If districtsdo not inform teachers that their job would be cut by then, the district must retain the teacher.