The Helena-West Helena School Board will discuss Reduction in Force (RIF) in a special called meeting at 6 tonight.
RIF, an expression more commonly associated with cutbacks in the military and corporate arenas, simply stated means “the separation or downgrading of employees as a result of reorganization, lack of work, or a shortage of funds.”
Superintendent Will Williams informed the board several months ago that given the steady decline in enrollment over the past decade the district would have to down scale the personnel.
It’s a simple case of mathematics: Fewer students means cuts in state aid and therefore reduced revenue to meet expenses. Each student translates to more than $6,000 in state aid.
Board member Rayne Gordon said Tuesday that the H-WHSD had lost about 1,000 students during the past decade. That translates into $6 million less state aid from then to now.
The board voted July 21 to draw $2 million from reserves to transfer to the general operating budget. That was done to carry the district through August and meet payroll for teachers and classified personnel who had not received their paychecks for this summer.
Those affected were on a 12-month cycle and had their paychecks through a direct deposit plan.
RIF will not affect classroom teachers.
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The Helena-West Helena School Board will discuss Reduction in Force (RIF) in a special called meeting at 6 tonight.
RIF, an expression more commonly associated with cutbacks in the military and corporate arenas, simply stated means “the separation or downgrading of employees as a result of reorganization, lack of work, or a shortage of funds.”
Superintendent Will Williams informed the board several months ago that given the steady decline in enrollment over the past decade the district would have to down scale the personnel.
It’s a simple case of mathematics: Fewer students means cuts in state aid and therefore reduced revenue to meet expenses. Each student translates to more than $6,000 in state aid.
Board member Rayne Gordon said Tuesday that the H-WHSD had lost about 1,000 students during the past decade. That translates into $6 million less state aid from then to now.
The board voted July 21 to draw $2 million from reserves to transfer to the general operating budget. That was done to carry the district through August and meet payroll for teachers and classified personnel who had not received their paychecks for this summer.
Those affected were on a 12-month cycle and had their paychecks through a direct deposit plan.
RIF will not affect classroom teachers.
