City School Cutbacks Outlined

A wide-ranging list of possible program and staff reductions which would cut the 197071 Ann Arbor Public Schools budget by $1,750,000 because of the defeat of a 3.10-mill operational millage proposal Monday was discussed last night by the Board of Education. The trustees will hold a special session at 7:30 p.m. Sunday a t the Ann Arbor Public Library to further discuss the budget proposals. The session will be open to the public. Simultaneously last n i g n t , School Supt. W. Scott Westerman Jr. announced that he would not recommend a comeback election anytime this year for operational funds because of the "emphatic" and "stunning" defeat of the 3.10-mill proposal. But he did say he would recommend a revised bonding election in the autumn in an attempt to alleviate the "severe crisis for space" in the public schools. "This is such a critical problem that it cannot be exaggerated," Westerman üaid. In order to "accept the mandate of the public" expressed at the polls Monday, Westerman proposed a tentative list of 44 different program reductions and staff cuts. The reductions would mean a decrease of 85 certified personnel and 49 operational employés. Most of the teacher reductions would be handled by simply not hiring planned personnel, but some teachers now on the staff who cannot be placed in other subjects might have to be let go, Westerman said. One trustee - Joseph T. A. Lee - proposed the total elimination of physical education programs. Some other tentative suggestions ofWe sterman would reduce the instrumental and vocal music program, along with the art and physical education programs in the elementary grades. Proposals on the secondary level would reduce the number of class periods from 7 to 6 at the junior highs and from 6 to 5 at the senior highs. Cleaning the schoÖMHiïïdTngs] every other day instead of daily was another proposal. A student in the audience urged the board to drop the present requirement for physical education before forcing students to drop academie courses. State law requires that some type of "health and physical education program" be taught in the public schools. School officials are now investigating to find out the minimum requirements for physical education under the law. Westerman told the board and the audience that "every deletion is made with a heavy heart. You do not remove $1,750,000 from a budget without having widespread implications. . . ." Trustee Ted Heusel urged that class sizes be increased as a way of saving money, instead of cutting programs. Class size is an item which m,ust be negotiated with the Ann Arbor Education Association, however. AAEA President Albert Chaffee warned the board that the teachers are "not ready to bear the brunt" of the defeat by shouldering poorer working conditions and less money. Trustee Paul H. Johnson said the board should scrutinize possible ways to save money carefully, instead of always threatening to cut the traditional "whipping dogs" of art, music, physical education and foreign languages. The tentative list of major budget cuts includes the following: ELEMENTARY - Eliminate the sixth grade French program : $71,500. - Reduce instrumental music for grades 5 and 6 from twice a week to once a week: $55,000. - Discontinue chorus in grades 4, 5 and 6: $27,500. -Art in grades 4. 5 and 6: have one minute period I instead of a 50-minute period: I $27,500. - Physical education, grades I 4, 5 and 6: two 30-minute 1 ods instead of two 50-minute I periods: $49,500. - Field trips: reduce by one I half: $4,300. A number of other cuts, I incuding not hiring two reading I consultants planned for the I mentary schools, also has been I proposed. SECONDARY - Junior High: Reduction from seven to six class periods (Reduction of 25 teachers;) $275,000. - Senior High: Reduction from 6 to 5 class periods (Reduction cf 20 teachers:) $220,000. - Reduce extracurricular activities in junior and senior highs by one-third: $8,000. - Reduce interscholastic and intramurals in junior and senior highs by one-fifth: $8,000. - Increase counselor - pupil ratio from the proposed 1 to 250 i to 1 to 275-300. It is now 1 to 330: $39,000. GENERAL -Reduce funds for in-service education by one half: $5,000. -Clean buildings every other day instead of daily. Staff reduction of 46: $292,500. -Plant maintenance reduction: $180,000. GOMMUNITY SERVICES - relete the planned funds for an Environmental Interpretive Center: $12,000. - Five per cent reduction in total budgets of public library, I recreation and continuing education: $30,000. The proposed elementary cuts of $369,300 would result in I the reduction of 25.5 certified I personnel. The proposed I secondary cuts o f $694,000 ! would result in the reduction of I 58 certified personnel. Proposed I general cuts would total I $645,028, while proposed comI munity services cuts would I total $42,000. H . .