Tuesday, April 20, 1999
Schools may limit hiring in Fairfield
Need for levy could be delayed
BY SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor
FAIRFIELD — If school officials delay a plan to add 75 positions, voters may not see an operating levy until at least 2000.
Under a five-year plan put together by principals in February, 57 teachers, four administrators and 13.5 support staff would be added in the district. All but 14 teachers would be hired during the first year, according to that proposal.
“We haven't settled on a plan yet,” said Maurice Godsey, president of the Fairfield Board of Education.
“We're trying to be very cautious. Do we hire the people we think we need and ask the public to pay for them afterward? Or do we ask for funding first? We've been criticized for building these beautiful new schools and then not staffing them properly.”
To fund the plan, a levy of 5.9 mills would be needed. But now board members are looking at options that would add fewer staff at a slower rate to avoid a ballot issue.
Recently, board members looked at a $700,000 plan that would add only three administrators and 10.5 teaching positions for the upcoming school year.
They have asked former treasurer James Rowan, now a consultant, to prepare cost estimates for two other proposals.
The first plan calls for hiring one supervisor for the central office and five elementary school teachers. Those same positions plus four teachers for a planned alternative school for grades seven to nine make up the other plan.
“I'd love to see all the staff added,” Superintendent Charles Wiedenmann said.
“That would make us an even better school system than what we are now. But we also have a fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers that says we have to balance want with the cost.”
Mr. Godsey said the board doesn't want to hire staff this year only to lay them off next year because of finances.
Projections being prepared by Mr. Rowan will help the board make a decision within two months.
“If we're going to hire staff for next year, we'd like to have as much time as possible to get the best possible people,” Mr. Wiedenmann said.
The financial projections under the different staffing levels will be discussed at Thursday's 7 p.m. board meeting at Fairfield Senior High School, 8800 Holden Blvd.
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