Widen, who has served the district for the past nine years, said little in his letter to the board except to ask for “continued patience and understanding” until his departure on June 30.
Widen cited the board’s reduction of the superintendent’s position as part of its goal of cuttings costs. The board informed him earlier this year that it would be seeking superintendent sharing opportunities or other ways to reduce administrative costs.
No discussion was held during the meeting about those options, but changing the superintendent position to half-time was part of the approved cuts.
Widen also serves as middle school principal. His resignation from the positions was accepted unanimously.
The district has faced two years of devastating cuts, prompted by declining enrollment and the reduction in the state’s budget guarantee.
District finances have been monitored by the Iowa Department of Education and the district has been required to submit a Corrective Action Plan for the department’s School Budget Review Committee.
The cuts — discussed in numerous School Board meetings for much of this school year — were deep. The board approved on a 4-1 vote the equivalent reduction of three teachers at the middle school and elementary school.
Also on the block were several coaching positions at the middle school, high school cross country, the elimination of one foreign language offering and driver’s education. The district will bring its alternative school onto the St. Ansgar campus. It is now located in Grafton.
The only cut that prompted more discussion was bringing one teacher position back after more children turned out for the district’s kindergarten roundup than anticipated. A point of concern in earlier meetings was the size of two sections of kindergarten.
With more children, a third section could be added — but that would add more costs. Members considered reducing a three-section fifth grade to two sections and moving that third teacher to a kindergarten post.
But board President Allan Stelpflug said it was hard to guess if all those who turned out at kindergarten roundup would show up on opening day. And, he said, changing the total cost savings figure might endanger the district’s corrective action plan.
Elementary Principal Bill Carlson said kindergarten orientation will be in May and a firmer number will be known then. The board will revisit kindergarten staffing after that.
One way or the other, pledged Stelpflug, “that kindergarten class will not be large. We’ll see to that.”
Top Budget Savings
• End tuitioning-out of special ed. students $67,141
• Cut one high school foreign language $64,295
• Cut superintendent to half-time/shared $61,091
• Cut 1.25 middle school teaching positions $55,801
• Cut one elementary teaching position $43,922
• Reduce elem. and middle school talented-and-gifted-program hours $30,888
• Reduce high school band position ¼ hours $17,206
• Eliminate one high school aide $12,545
justthefacts wrote on Mar 17, 2008 12:28 AM:
On March 14 at 5:39, you posted.
"Mr. Widen and his board have known about this declining enrollment for some time". His board is possessive denoting ownership which he does not own this board, it is the communities school board.
As for for connection to Mr. Widen, I know him and just don"t like seeing a good person getting ripped by nameless, faceless entities.
"