GUEST COMMENTARY: Let public review plan before school board votes

Like many school districts across this state, the leadership of the Valparaiso Community Schools is faced with the unenviable task of making drastic cuts to the general fund budget, brought about by the decreased state funding for education over the past four years. For Valparaiso Community Schools, that decrease in state funding has resulted in a deficit in excess of $3.2 million for the 2011-2013 school years. This is despite previous budget reduction measures put in place by VCS leadership.

At the next regularly scheduled Valparaiso School Board meeting, set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Valparaiso High School auditorium, the board is expected to vote on a budget reduction plan which has yet to be seen by the community at large.

It is anticipated that this plan will include drastic cuts to teachers, the near-elimination of instructional aides and a reduction in enrichment and honors courses, along with a variety of non-personnel related cuts in spending.

Such cuts will likely have a devastatingly negative impact on the quality of education offered the children of Valparaiso. Voting on such a plan without first entering into dialog with the community will have an equally devastating effect on the already-strained bond of trust that exists between the community and current VCS leadership.

It is in the best interest of the Valparaiso School Board to delay any action by postponing a formal vote for two weeks, which still allows the Board time to meet a March 15 reduction in force notification deadline. The board's ability to call a special session for the purpose of such a vote has been exercised in the past on issues of far less importance. Delaying a vote will provide the community time to vet the proposal made public for the first time on Feb. 21, assuring both the equity and effectiveness of any proposed cuts. More important, such a delay will give all stakeholders - teachers, parents, community leaders and VCS leadership - an opportunity to look toward alternative proposals aimed at cutting our current operation deficit.

One such alternative was hinted at during a recent public work session when past board member and retired economics professor Jim Bernard raised the possibility of tapping a school construction savings account pegged at $5 million to $6 million. This, combined with a current rainy day savings account balance of more than $3 million, along with non-staff-related budget cuts, could eliminate our current deficit while still maintaining a sizable savings for future use. More importantly, such a plan would provide needed time to pursue long-term solutions to our school system's structural deficit problems, including a general fund referendum.

Valpo parents, students and the community at large have a responsibility to attend next Tuesday's board meeting. The School Board has a responsibility to better engage with our community by delaying their vote on the propose cuts and allowing for a full review of the proposal, along with alternative plans.

Christopher Pupillo is one of 54 member of the Valparaiso Community Schools Strategic Planning Committee. The opinion expressed in this column is the writer's and not necessarily that of The Times.