By David Svien
Special to the News-Times
The newest round of budget cuts in the Coupeville School District affects paraeducators and the farm manager, while eliminating the dean of students position.
The Coupeville School Board, in a 4-1 vote April 27, adopted a “Modified Education Plan” which instructs Superintendent Steve King to reduce expenditures by up to $1.45 million in the 2023-2024 school year.
The district has updated its list of cuts on its website three times, with the most recent tweaks hitting the internet Wednesday, June 21.
As of May 1, there were $790,100 in cuts. That figure went to $928,000 on May 15, then jumped to $1.27 million in the most-recent update.
The newest cuts include eliminating the dean of students position held by Tom Black, a 19-year veteran of the district. That cut is listed at $85,000.
“Unfortunately, these difficult decisions have led us to cut this position on the secondary campus,” Superintendent Steve King said in an email Thursday. “Mr. Black is deeply respected by students and staff alike; we recognize this is a significant loss. Our administrators will adjust to absorb the daily support previously provided by Mr. Black, including increasing student supervision time.”
Other trims include reducing the farm manager position to being funded solely by grants, which will reduce cost by an estimated $50,000.
“The work of the school farm and its benefits for student learning and engagement is important to keep in place for the district,” King said. “Kylie Neal, who has been doing amazing work as our Farm Manager, has resigned as she is relocating. The district plans to continue the position for the 23-24 school year, but it will be funded by grants and not from the district general fund.”
All paraeducators will see their schedule trimmed from 7 hours to 6.5, which the district pencils out at a savings of $76,300.
“To save as many positions and jobs as possible, we will be reducing our para daily hours,” King said. “This will allow paras to still be at work during the entire time students are on campus, including some before and after school supervision.”
With the pandemic in retreat, Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds which previously funded two temporary paraeducator positions at the elementary school ($60,000 total) will no longer be available.
As previously announced, one other paraeducator position has been eliminated due to attrition.
In a small trim, the district will reduce its transportation dispatcher position by four days.
The final new addition involves state lawmakers’ recent decision to fund free breakfast and lunch for all elementary school students beginning this fall.
“Based on our past experience when students received free breakfast and lunch we anticipate a significant increase in revenues with a less significant rise in expenses,” King said. “We are currently projecting that this will be a reduction of at least $60,000 to the annual district contribution to the Connected Food Program.”
As the budget cut process has played out, two athletic positions have been involved, though one is no longer part of the plan.
A proposal to remove Willie Smith as Coupeville High School/Middle School athletic director, and hand his duties off to an assistant principal, was removed after originally being announced.
However, cutting Coupeville High School alum and current teacher Jessica Caselden as athletic trainer remains on the list, despite a substantial outcry from athletes, coaches and community members. The cut saves $8,200.
A majority of the high school softball team wrote letters to King and school board members in support of Caselden.
The next school board meeting, which will be streamed online, is set for Thursday, June 29 at 5:30 p.m. in Annex Room 305 at Coupeville High School. The cuts will not be on the agenda, as they are not proposals, but part of an ongoing plan already approved by the board.
There is a public comment option, however, with a total of 15 minutes allotted for community members to speak in person.
