West Bend School District cuts back......TEACHERS?

HUH? I smell a STRATEGIC "GUILT" MOVE here...

The West Bend School District plans to cut $233,125 – including two high school teachers – from its proposed 2009-10 budget, under a plan unveiled this week by Superintendent Pat Herdrich. The district’s proposed total budget stands at $73,286,236, Herdrich said.

OK, wait a minute. We have been screaming for the school district to show us they are making efforts to cut back and streamline the budget like everyone else, and they are going to take away TEACHERS? With a staff of 1100 people, only 5oo being teachers, the decision is to dump TEACHERS?

Changes in the curriculum include reductions in the referendum-planning dollars, supplies and materials and staff development, she said.

OOPS! TOO LATE! The referendum is already here! The money is already spent! Darn! But it sounded good!


Funds are being shifted into capital equipment and textbooks because of the growth of the district, she said. Reduction in business and human resources will include accounts payable, athletic consulting services, and equipment and software, according to Herdrich’s plan. There will be an increase for the position of human resources coordinator, she said. At Silverbrook Middle School, there will be a 12-percent reduction in clerical and aide time, Herdrich said.

There is also a reduction in a substitute teacher position that will result in a net savings of $6,000 while an art teacher position will be returned following the significant reductions on the middle school level a year ago, Herdrich said. In athletics, the West Bend East and West boys swim programs plan to combine into one, she said.

NICE. So let's make everyone be horrified that we have to let some teachers go. Shame, shame on us. More and more the school board is looking like fools.