Hamilton County: Not enough time to close schools, officials say

For all the talk about closing public schools to save money, few Board of Education members seem to think the plan is realistic by next year.

“There’s no way we can do this,” board member Rhonda Thurman said. “These are things that are going to take a lot of time. It will not get done. It can’t be done.”

Hamilton County Schools’ Chief Financial Officer Tommy Kranz offered several options, including a plan to close 11 small or underused schools, to help erase a projected $20.2 million budget shortfall next year.

The school closures would save the district $6 million, well below what is needed to close the budget deficit.

Schools Superintendent Jim Scales said he “wouldn’t want to speculate” on whether school closures were feasible by next year. No one is in favor of closing schools, firing teachers, increasing health care premiums and co-pays, he said, but administrators are left with little choice.

“All of it’s distasteful, but we have to do something,” he said.

Ms. Thurman said district administrators should pursue other cost-cutting alternatives before recommending school closures. Among her suggestions are eliminating all elementary school assistant principal positions and closing the district’s satellite office on 40th Street, which houses departments such as health services, ROTC and exceptional education. Those departments could move to the school system’s central office off Bonny Oaks Drive.

Board member Everett Fairchild agreed there may not be enough time to close schools by next year.

“I’m not for rushing into anything and trying to get something done before next August,” he said.

Like several other board members, Mr. Fairchild suggested cutting positions from the central office.

Mr. Kranz and Dr. Scales said the $2 million they hope to cut from the central office is aggressive, but Mr. Fairchild said that figure should be the starting point.

“I don’t think we need to stop at $2 million,” he said. “I don’t know what (each position does) exactly, but I think that’s what we need to look at.”

Board member Chip Baker said he wants to question administrators on whether there is time to implement closures for next year. He is unsure about what other cuts he would support, but noted the board has more time to consider the budget than in previous years.

“We’re literally talking about this in November, and this is usually a conversation we have much later,” he said. “We have the element of time on our side, except it may hurt us if one of the decisions is to close schools.”

Board Chairman Kenny Smith said he thinks it’s too late to close schools next year, although he expects Dr. Scales to give the board such a recommendation.

He said health care benefits deserve a look, as does the option of dipping into the school system’s $17.6 million fund balance.

The school board typically approves a budget in April and presents the plan to the Hamilton County Commission in May.