Wrangell school committee suggests consolidation, cuts to cope with deficit

(Wrangell Public Schools photo)

By Jonathon Dawe

Wrangell Sentinel

The school board’s ad hoc committee charged with recommending money-saving ideas for the financially stressed school district has listed consolidating the elementary school into one building and moving to a four-day school week among the top options.

The committee presented its report at the school board’s June 16 meeting.

Across Alaska, school districts are facing significant budget deficits, leading to significant changes like teacher layoffs, school closures and program cuts. As its financial reserves are dwindling, the Wrangell School Board in April established a 10-member committee to research and evaluate possible cost-saving options.

Comprised of school board members, school district administration and support staff, teachers and community members, the committee met weekly from April 28 to June 10.

Their research, detailed in the report presented by Committee Chair Aaron Angerman, ranks options by favorability based on financial savings, educational impact and difficulty of implementation.

Committee members agreed that consolidating the K-3 classrooms of the Evergreen Elementary School into the adjoining building that houses fourth and fifth grades was the most favorable cost-saving option.

Angerman told the board this move would benefit educators, staff and students by fostering increased collaboration and providing greater access to educational opportunities beyond core classrooms.

“A decades-long reduction in total classroom numbers at Evergreen Elementary has made the transfer of all classrooms, offices and staffing … a feasible opportunity,” the committee report to the board said.

“With nine total classrooms available, including what is currently the music classroom, the Intermediate Building (fifth and sixth grades) could accommodate classrooms for grades K-5, all secretarial/administrative offices, the district office, special education and Title 1 staff, without impacting band/arts or use of the Elementary School gym.”

According to the report, the consolidation would reduce by 43% the total square footage consumed by the K-5 elementary school. This reduction would eliminate the need for one custodial staff position, saving an estimated $43,044 to $55,871 a year.

Based on the reduced square footage, building costs — including insurance, electricity, fuel and utilities — are projected to see an estimated savings of $50,000 to $62,000 in the first year.

The borough owns the school buildings and is responsible for major maintenance, while the school district pays for utilities, custodial services and other operating costs.

“We’ll be talking about this with the new superintendent (Joshua Garrett) after he starts work,” Board President David Wilson said. “But this would be the easiest change to make. It would be the least intrusive change and it would be the easiest one to do.”

Garrett is scheduled to start work July 1.

Wilson said he is encouraged to pursue the consolidation recommendation, as faculty members have expressed support for the idea.

“I think some people are of the mind that we’ll make this change during the summer,” Wilson noted. “But there’s too much to be done. Rooms would have to be prepared and hardware would need to be moved. And, we need to discuss it with Dr. Garrett.”

The committee’s second option presented by Angerman was reducing the school week to four days.

Angerman said that option would bring an estimated savings of 2% to 9% of the total school district budget, while also attracting new teachers by offering a schedule that would be more appealing to their work/life balance.

The report detailed how a four-day week could save the district between $100,000 and $450,000 a year, including, for starters, bus contracts, $20,000 to $40,000; hourly staff, $20,000 to $30,000; substitute staff, approximately $7,000; school lunch program, $5,000; and building-related costs at a minimum of $28,000.

But there could be a downside. “The main problem with that plan is the impact on child care needs in the community,” Wilson said. “It might not be a problem that lasts very long, but it could cause some difficulty for parents, initially.”

The committee looked at several other building and staff consolidation options but concluded that putting K-5 classes into one building and moving to a four-day school week are “the most favorable options” covered in the six-page report.

“It’s important to note that we aren’t taking action on any of the recommended changes,” Wilson said at the June 16 school board meeting. “Basically, the committee is putting ideas together to help the district make a plan for the future, if we find ourselves needing to make drastic changes. Right now, everything is just in the consideration. Nothing will proceed anytime soon.”

• This story originally appeared in the Wrangell Sentinel.