Boone Schools fears 83 layoffs

By Justin B. Duke • jbduke@nky.com

Looming state and federal funding cuts has Boone County Schools potentially laying off up to 83 employees.

The district is looking at a total of $2.7 million in funding cuts by the end of this fiscal year. The cuts will require cutting 34 paraeducator positions. Paraeducators assist teachers and provide one-on-one assistance with students who are struggling.

“This is the best case scenario,” said Superintendent Randy Poe.

When legislators go back for the special session on Monday, they’ll decide on how to maintain federal stimulus money that sent more funding to schools. A Senate proposal suggests cutting the funding, which would leave Boone Schools with a total cut of about $5.9 million.

“There’s no way this school system could absorb a nearly $6 million cut,” Poe said.

If the additional cut comes, the district faces losing the 34 paraeducators along with 23 teachers, 23 support staff and three central office employees.

“We need the community to know what cuts are coming because this will affect their children,” Poe said.

The cuts come after the Board of Education made the controversial decision to raise the property tax rates by the compensating rate plus an additional 4 percent last August.

“The state wiped that away,” Poe said.

While the cuts will have a negative effect on the district’s goal of having students be career and college ready, staff and administrators will continue to work as hard as they can – like they always do, said board chairman Steve Kinman.

“We’ll make it. We always have; we always will,” Kinman said. “It’s not going to be easy – it’s going to be really tough…We’re tougher than Frankfort. We’re not going to let them beat us.”

Boone Schools fears 83 layoffs