Bloom 206 to Cut Teaching Staff, Remove Block Scheduling

Updated Jan. 6, 2011 at 8:05 p.m.

Expect to see major changes at and high schools as District 206 prepares to battle a multimillion-dollar deficit.

The Bloom Board of Education is expected to approve shifting from the school's current block schedule toward a more traditional schedule, according to Bloom Human Resources Director Joe Malizia.

"We’ve been on the current schedule modified block since 2005," Malizia said.

The decision to change to traditional is based on the district's enrollment, which has increased nearly every year since 1999, according to the district's report card. But the state report card also shows the district has a 20 percent mobility rate, which tracks the amount of students transferring in or out of schools.

The schedule change could mean students take five classes per day instead of six, leading to a slight decrease in the graduation requirements.

A district employee who was in school meetings this week where the acting superintendent shared this information believes this may be a step in the wrong direction.

"Morale is low and no one in the building thinks that lowering graduation requirements for a 'failing' school is the right thing to do," the staff member said, speaking on condition he not be named.

Beyond the structural changes, Acting Supt. Lenell Navarre in February will determine the number of teaching staff cuts the district will make as part of a reduction in force, according to Malizia.

"We’re really kind of overstaffed and underfunded," Malizia said. "We hope it's no more than 15 district-wide staff members."

Malizia said the district will not replace teachers lost through attrition, which would lower the amount of staff cuts needed.

This isn't the first time the district has decided to make cuts, but it hasn't always been teachers that lost their jobs.

"In 2009, Glen (Giannetti), working with Lenell and Mark (Sheahan), made a number of budgetary cuts," Malizia said. "We’ve reduced the number of administrative staff in recent years. This year will be teaching staff."

The most recent hires would be the first to be released.

The board could approve the schedule changes at the Jan. 9 meeting, but Board President Henry Drake said he is unaware of the possible staff reduction.