By Brandon Bartlett - bio | email | Twitter
Posted by Rachel Folz - email
EVANSVILLE, IN (WFIE) - Some big changes could be on the way for the EVSC.
Statewide cuts, mandated by the governor, take effect after the holiday break.
The pressure is on local systems to find new ways to save money.
This is something all Indiana school systems are dealing with.
Budgets are being cut by nearly 3.5 percent.
EVSC Superintendent Dr. Vince Bertram seems determined to protect teacher jobs.
Dr. Bertram said he plans to start making some reductions as quickly as possible.
"We have to constantly rethink the way we do business," Superintendent Vince Bertram said. "So I think everything is on the table."
Everything from energy conservation, to consolidating functions, to the corporation's structure, will be getting a closer look.
Dr. Bertram says some jobs may have to go as well.
Dr. Bertram says he knew this day would eventually come.
The state is forcing the EVSC to cut its $140 million budget by nearly $5 million.
Dr. Bertram told 14 News they may need to go deeper than that, to $7.7 million in cuts.
That's because Dr. Bertram anticipates this level of funding is the new norm and the additional cuts would bring expenses and revenue more in line.
Dr. Bertram says programs like full-day kindergarten, athletics and arts programs aren't on the table.
In fact, anything that affects classroom instruction, he says, won't be cut.
Instead, he's looking for ways to outsource, consolidate and conserve.
The school corporation has already found ways of saving some money.
It reduced its insurance cost by 2 percent, without cutting any benefits.
And with the addition of netbooks in the classroom, and the soon to be opened new tech high school, school officials hope to boost enrollment in the system, which would help boost revenue.
The EVSC has set aside a rainy day fund of $6.5 million but Dr. Bertram stresses that those are not recurring funds and won't solve any long-term budget issues.
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