Valley View Approves Plan to Cut $560,000 in Administrative Costs

The Valley View School District 365U Board of Education approved a plan Monday night that will trim more than $560,000 in administrative costs over the next three years.

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The plan includes a re-organization at the VVSD Administration Center with administrative positions being eliminated or reclassified at a lower rate as of July 1 resulting in significant savings over the next three years.

The cost-cutting plan was approved two days before the Valley View teachers union votes on a second proposed contract. That vote will be made on Wednesday. Teachers have been operating off of an expired contract since August. Union members overwhelmingly voted down a first proposal in the fall. 

The following changes were proposed: 

• Reorganize the two Assistant Superintendent positions to Executive Director positions with a reduction in salary from $150,000 to $120,000
• Combine the pre‐K‐5 and 6‐12 Assistant Superintendents’ positions into one pre‐K through 12 position, salary to be determined
• Elimination of the Assistant Director of School Community Relations $50,000
• Elimination of the Administrative Consultant for pre‐K through 12 Principals and Assistant Principals $50,000
• Reduction in salary by 25 percent for the Director of School Community Relations ($21,625)

Further proposed savings include:

• Changes in administrative insurance benefits to reflect proposed changes in the teacher contract. i.e., $360 for single coverage and $600 for family coverage. Total $65,000
• Reduction in professional development funds for all administrators, savings of $35,000
• Further scrutiny of all out of district travel, saving to be determined
• Further savings due to retirements from 2013‐2015

More details of the re-organization will be announced at a later date.

“As we move forward with the New View, it is imperative that we focus our energy and financial resources on the classroom, making sure our most important asset, our educators, have all the tools they need to help our children succeed,” said VVSD Superintendent Dr. James Mitchem.

Mitchem said during Monday's school board meeting that Valley View administrators get a paid "slightly higher" salary than other nearby districts. But Valley View has more than 300 students per administrator, whereas other districts' administrator-to-student ratios are more in the "low 200's," Mitchem said.  

The plan also includes several changes in benefits accorded to district and school administrators.

Beginning with the 2013-14 school year, all administrators will share more in the cost of their own health insurance as well as their family’s insurance, if applicable. This change will result in a savings to the district of roughly $195,000 over three years.

In addition, reductions in the professional development budgets for all VVSD building and district administrators, ranging from 5 to 40 percent, will save the district $105,000 over a three year period.

Mitchem also indicated that replacing retiring staff over the next three years with staff at lower salary levels will save an additional $220,000.

“Given the uncertain history of state funding, it is critical for Valley View to live within our financial means, while continuing to keep our children foremost in our minds,” Mitchem said.

Editor's note: This article was submitted by Valley View School District 365U. 

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