Schools chief sees a sad plot

Learning how to deliver lines like "O, Romeo, Romeo, Wherefore art thou, Romeo?" might be going the way of the doomed lovers in the Shakespearean tragedy "Romeo and Juliet."

The stage is not set for the Clark County School District to save popular elective classes such as the theater arts, which will be eliminated next year from Durango High School.

More school budget cuts seem likely.

Superintendent Walt Rulffes was not optimistic Thursday about school funding despite legislative efforts to mitigate Gov. Jim Gibbons' recommended budget cuts and obtain federal stimulus funding.

The Legislature on Wednesday recommended a 4 percent pay cut for teachers instead of the governor's recommendation to cut teacher pay by 6 percent.

In planning for the next two years, Rulffes does not seem to think the savings from the 2 percentage point difference in recommended salary cuts will be significant for a school district that already has identified $120 million in cuts and is looking for an additional $20 million to slash.

"The 2 percent difference is only a piece of the big puzzle," Rulffes said. "It's welcome news, but the overall shortfalls in revenue appear to require additional cuts to get us through the two-year biennium. We need to be concerned about both years."

Because school district is using reserves and a lot of one-time savings to help pay for next year's $2.1 billion budget, its safety net will be torn and frayed by the second school year, 2010-11.

The superintendent suggested drastic measures that contradicted earlier assurances that the school district will not pass along a 4 percent pay cut to employees.

"We're in a compensation versus layoff mode, and that discussion will be on the negotiation table with unions," Rulffes said.

The district is negotiating contracts with the four unions representing teachers, administrators, support staff and police officers.

Contracts are up for renewal July 1, the start of the new fiscal year. Contracts will depend on the new state budget. Legislators are expected to conclude the session by June 1.

School Board President Terri Janison also distanced herself from a statement by Joyce Haldeman, the assistant superintendent for communication, that the district will not go through with the 4 percent pay cuts.

"Everything is on the table for negotiation," Janison said.

Janison attributed the confusion over school funding to the uncertainty of the ever-changing legislative process.

"We're not going to have solid answers until the end of the session," she said.

Ruben Murillo, the president of the Clark County Education Association, said the teachers' union is in good shape to defend current salary levels because of its collective bargaining agreement.

He said school district officials have long recognized that they cannot "null and void" the legally binding contract.

The school district cannot simply demand new terms because "evergreen clauses" keep the current terms in place until a new agreement can be reached, Murillo said.

Murillo recognized the teachers' union will get a lot of criticism if the school district has to absorb costs elsewhere. If class sizes were increased by one student in grades one through three, for instance, the district could save $15.5 million.

But cutting teacher pay would increase teacher turnover, Murillo said. He said 50 percent of teachers already leave the school system after five years.

Because of attrition, Murillo thinks teachers largely will be spared from layoffs, though the district is eliminating 209 teaching positions. It is eliminating 854 positions altogether.

Teachers and administrators got 4 percent cost-of-living increases this school year, but Murillo said it was a one-time raise.

Teachers do not get annual cost-of-living increases like some public employees do, he added.

Teachers in Clark County make between $35,083 and $70,060 based on experience and education.

Administrators make between $55,188 and $161,220.

Support staff make between $10.76 and $50.87 an hour, but their jobs are as diverse as asbestos inspectors and purchasing supervisors. Many of the jobs are seasonal and part time.

A school police officers makes $22.33 to $31.75 an hour, but school officers are some of the best-paid employees in district. Because of overtime, many make double their annual salaries.

Contact reporter James Haug at jhaug@reviewjournal.com or 702-374-7917.