The Thompson School District will slash some staff positions and reassign others to save more than $2.1 million
in the 2012-13 school year, but the district also is considering additional measures to account for an estimated shortfall of nearly $6 million.
Although no classroom teachers will be eliminated, 13 licensed positions — largely support roles like instructional coaches — will remain unfilled while another 11 individuals will be reassigned to positions vacated by voluntary exit incentives.
Reductions totaling 19 full-time classified positions will eliminate roles such as aides and technical support personnel in schools that have had to change their staffing models. The equivalent of 4.3 full-time positions will be carved out of the administrative and professional ranks, but will not eliminate any principals.
“This covers only the personnel portion,” said district spokeswoman Melissa Adams. “District staff and the board of education have been working on other cuts in services and programs, like transportation.”
A variety of other options remain on the table, including furlough days and school fees.
This year, revenue for the district’s $115 million budget came up $7.25 million short — a gap that was covered by reserves. This year’s final budget will depend on any changes in state funding that will be addressed later this month.
Next school year marks the fourth straight year of budget cuts for the district, which like others in Colorado has sought to keep the reductions out of the classroom as much as possible. But last year, the district cut all first- and second-year high school teachers.
“It’s been pretty devastating,” Adams said.
Kevin Simpson: 303-954-1739 or ksimpson@denverpost.com
