Western Hills High School must cut three teachers next year, but students won’t lose any programs or classes in the process.
The school council voted unanimously Tuesday to eliminate three teaching positions, one each in social studies, science and physical education. A loss of federal and local funding spurred the cuts.
“It looks to me like everything fits, and we’re not losing any classes,” said Ryan Hale, an English teacher and member of the council.
“I know a few classes are getting bigger here and there, but we’re used to that, and we’re getting to teach all the classes we do this year.”
Western Hills, like other local schools, is losing one of the positions because a source of federal funding and a deal with the Franklin County Board of Education is coming to an end.
The school board agreed to give each school an additional teaching position last year after it picked up the tab for the band director’s position at Franklin County High School.
The action cost an estimated $570,000 from federal money intended to save teaching jobs during the recession. That funding was temporary, and now schools face staffing cuts for the upcoming school year.
Councils are meeting throughout the month to decide what stays and what goes based on personnel allocations from Central Office.
So far, the Elkhorn Middle School council has chosen to cut an instructional coach and an arts and humanities teacher. Collins Lane Elementary will eliminate a technology enrichment position and a math intervention specialist.
Some schools are able to add new teachers because of expanding enrollments. Growth at the Early Learning Village will offset any cuts, and Bondurant Middle will add a sixth-grade teacher.
Westridge Elementary was set to lose a position, but used income from its after-school program to pay for it.
Other school council decisions are pending.
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