Shutdown may bring budget relief

January 24, 206

JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU - In an effort to cut education costs, Mat-Su Borough School District administration is asking the school board to consider cutting 20 days from full-time district employees' annual pay.

In a draft budget to the school board, Chief School Administrator Bob Doyle recommended whittling the number of paid days from 260 to 240 in what he called a &#8220July shutdown.”

Doyle said the move is necessary to make up for rising education costs that could mean a $4 million shortfall in the district's education budget next year.

&#8220We're looking at every little productivity piece to see where we can reduce costs,” Doyle said last week. &#8220In terms of pay for the employees, their annual salary would drop by 20 days.”

The shortened work days would not affect any employees who currently work 240 or fewer days, which includes teachers and school clerical positions. The July shutdown would, however, affect roughly 100 employees, including those at the district headquarters and custodial positions.

&#8220The school board will have to look at the proposal and decide if that's what they want to do,” Doyle said, while adding that, if approved, the time off might be spread out over the course of the year to maximize employee productivity.

Much of the district's major maintenance projects are done in the summer hours when students are not in session. Doyle said maintenance employees might need to work some in July and take days off at other times throughout the year.

Likewise, many special education programs take place in summer sessions, which means special education teachers might also need to take their 20 days off at other times.

&#8220If the board approves this, we are going to have to sit down with everyone who is impacted and see what would be the best way for them to get their missions completed,” Doyle said. &#8220Maybe they take two weeks off in July and two weeks off at Christmas.”

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266 or joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.