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Published: Tuesday, Mar. 09, 2010 / Updated: Thursday, Mar. 11, 2010 12:04 PM

Fort Mill to lose 27 teaching jobs,middle school sports to budget cuts

FORT MILL TOWNSHIP -- 

Furloughs are coming, MAP testing is out, middle school sports are being cut and 27 teaching positions in the Fort Mill schol district are on the chopping block.

That’s what is likely for the 2010-11 Fort Mill school district budget, officials said Monday.

“We do understand that we have to live within our means,” said Leanne Lordo, assistant superintendent of finance and operations.

At stake are more than 40 district positions to help the district realize a savings and bring next year‘s budget into balance, school leaders said during Monday‘s Fort Mill School Board meeting.

“These cuts result in 47 total positions,” Lordo told an audience of parents, teachers and principals.

“Of the 47, 27 are teaching (positions). Twenty are administration and support.”

In the room at Fort Mill High School sat more than 100 people.

“We will no longer have middle school sports next year,” Lordo said.

That announcement triggered a near collective gasp from the audience.

Less than 40 minutes later, the school board gave its initial approval to those recommended cuts.

The suggested cuts would help the district realize a cost savings of $5,494,094.

“This budget is reflective of the circumstances that our state and local community finds itself in,” Superintendent Keith Callicutt said.

The district took a blow this year to the tune of $2,298,788 in state funding, and more cuts are expected next year, Callicutt said.

Here’s some of what is suggested to fix what ails the district’s budget.

“We will no longer have MAP or Testview next year,” Lordo said. “That’s a savings of $58,748.”

Amending administrative contract days for athletic directors and high school assistant principals from 240 to 230 days is projected to save the district $17,250, Lordo said.

Athletic fees per activity will be $100 and would yield approximately $159,161.

“A fee would apply to band students as well as athletes,” Lordo said of the athletic fee.

The district office will make do with three fewer employees. On the chopping block is the public information officer, an SASI clerk and a payroll clerk. That would be a savings of $111,351, Lordo said.

An elementary assistant principal position will be cut and the elementary gifted/talented program will be restructured, Lordo said. That will generate a cost savings of $895,991, Lordo said.

Eliminating middle school sports will yield $190, 686, she said. Along the same lines, related high school supplements also will see cuts.

“We would have three less football assistants,” Lordo said. “We currently have 10 positions.”

The same would hold true for band, she said, adding that overall extracurricular activities would realize a savings of $510,523.

But there’s more.

“Fort Mill Academy would be restructured and reduced by two teaching positions next year,” Lordo said of the move that endeavors to save $146,450.

And then there’s furloughs.

Teachers face five furlough days while administration would realize 10. That savings? $1,414,753, Lordo said.

Instructional fees were increased from $20 to $25 for a savings of $50,000.