Southwest School Corp. facing potential job cuts due to budget concerns

SULLIVAN, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Budget concerns could lead to teachers and other staff members getting fired by the Southwest School Corporation.

WTWO obtained an email sent to SWSC employees from Superintendent Chris Stitzle that laid out details of those concerns. The email discussed both the 2024 budget and future budgets.

The email also asked staff to meet Stitzle on Tuesday afternoon to further discuss the concerns as well as cost reduction considerations, which include reductions to certified and non-certified staff, administrative salaries, non-bargained stipends, instructional and technology subscriptions, and partnerships with outside organizations.

Stitzle said in an interview with WTWO on Wednesday that he organized the meeting and sent out the email to remain transparent with his staff and keep them informed about the proactive nature of his decisions regarding the budget.

The budget issues are tied to a “historic drop” in assessed valuation (AV) for the 2024 budget year. According to Stitzle; the drop totaled over $122 million.

The AV drop also resulted in an increase of approximately 28 cents on the SWSC tax rate, according to Stitzle, who explained in the email that the higher the AV is, the lower the tax rate.

Stitzle went on to explain that the AV drop had a “significant impact” on the SWSC Operations Fund for this year, with over $1.1 million in total funding being lost, over $700,000 of which was included in the 2024 budget.

A decline in student enrollment of fifty kids this semester also caused a financial hit of approximately $180,000 for the semester, Stitzle wrote.

Stitzle said the idea of cutting jobs is difficult for many reasons.

“This isn’t an easy thing,” Stitzle said. “They’re all a part of the team and they’re all an important part of the team because everyone that we have that works here does something and it impacts children’s lives.”

Stitzle went on to share some of the ways that SWSC administration is looking to cut costs, including an evaluation of the school corporation’s contract with Sodexo for food services and grant opportunities.

“We have to look at all aspects, you know,” Stitzle said. “Our student enrollment, our facilities, you know, how can we save money with energy, maybe? Supplies, I mean we’re looking at everything where we can save some money and unfortunately, staff is part of that.”

Stitzle said some things change over the summer, and that the school corporation will have to “wait and see” what happens as they work through the current budget situation.

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