DISTRICT PINPOINTS 104 VACANT
POSITIONS FOR ELIMINATION

(Bradenton, FL - May 2, 2008) After reviewing and analyzing budget-cutting proposals submitted by individual schools last month, Manatee District officials and school principals from across the district were able to identify 104 vacant positions the district can eliminate without any current employees losing their jobs. The elimination of these positions would result in a savings to the district of $5.6 million for the 2008-2009 school year.

“We spent 16 hours with principals over two days this week to pinpoint these positions,” Superintendent Dr. Roger Dearing said. “By eliminating these positions, it will help us in our efforts to meet the $21 million budget deficit we face for the 2008-2009 school year. In addition, the principals made adjustments within their personnel allocations to assure us these vacancies will not result in the elimination of programs or significantly impact services for our students.”

The vacant positions identified include 38 district level positions and 66 school-based positions. The school-based positions include: 31 teaching, 13 custodian, 12 teacher aide, 4 clerical, 3 media specialists, 2 guidance counselor and 1 teacher assistant.

Due to a statewide decline in sales tax revenues, the Manatee District must find a way to reduce its 2008-2009 school budget by $21 million. To avoid sizable layoffs and the resulting reduction in services to our students, Dr. Dearing is calling on all district employees to share in the sacrifice and is recommending that district employees take an across the board reduction in pay. At the same time, district officials are asking both unions, the Manatee Education Association and AFSCME, to come to the table and bargain reductions in salary in order to avoid school employee layoffs. By law, the superintendent must submit a balanced-budget recommendation to the school board.

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