Miller proposes idea for school district

?We appreciate the research that he did, and we want to look a little more at those numbers and the research,? said Fairfield Community School District superintendent Laurie Noll of school board member Paul Miller?s compiled data aimed at helping the district save the money it needs to remain compliant with the state.

Currently, the district needs to reduce its spending by $850,000 to remain compliant with the state, and the board is exploring several options, including the closure of Libertyville Elementary School to accomplish that goal. The district is also considering offering early retirement for qualified teachers with 10 years of continuous employment, as well as staff reductions among other things.

If Libertyville were to close, it would save the district $461,086.

During a work session last Monday, Miller provided data showing teachers? salaries in Fairfield in 2015 were a little more than $6.8 million, while all other district staff combined, including associates, administrators and office staff, was $4.197 million. The figures did not include food services staff, which is paid out of the district?s nutrition fund.

Miller explained that all other staff salaries is equivalent to 61 percent of the total teachers? salaries, and he thought the district was overstaffed compared to other nearby districts.

?In my opinion, we are significantly overstaffed,? Miller said during a recent interview.

Miller researched several school districts from around southeast Iowa, such as Cardinal, Ottumwa, Keokuk and even Shenandoah, which is one of the poorest districts in the area.

Miller said around 52 percent of the students in the Shenandoah Community School District receive free or reduced lunches.

Miller opined the board should take a look at cutting other staff besides teachers because they are the ?lifeblood? of the school district.

He said in a later interview the district should also take a look at any possible curriculum deficiencies, using Shenandoah as an example.

?It?s a poorer community,? Miller said, adding that the elementary school still had higher proficiency levels than Fairfield schools overall.

Around 41 percent of students in Fairfield receive free or reduced lunch.

Miller said if Libertyville were to close, several teachers, a janitor and an office assistant would be included in the cut.

During the work session, school board president Phil Miller said Paul Miller?s data should be sent to the Iowa Associations of School Boards.

The district sent Paul Miller?s data to IASB finance support director Shawn Snyder last week.

Snyder met with Miller remotely Friday.

Snyder told Miller that other things besides salaries would factor into why Fairfield?s numbers seem so much higher than other districts. Snyder said things to take into account were transportation, and other services that one district might need over another.

?I think it?s good that you?re delving into the data,? Snyder told Miller.

Snyder also mentioned that the Fairfield Community School District received TREGO Budget Reduction Training, and that Noll had not only attended a session, but she presented during the last one.

Miller said he planned to take Snyder?s suggestions.

?He wants to make sure that we are comparing ourselves with other schools that have similar situated schools in terms of at-risk students,? Miller said, adding that he intended to research and compare transportation, at-risk students and the number of students who have Individual Education Plans.