BCISD gets feedback on possibly closing Shady Grove Elementary School
BURNET — If natural attrition doesn’t keep Burnet Consolidated Independent School District elementary staffs at an acceptable number, how will administrators decide who has a job?
That question was one of several posed to Superintendent Keith McBurnett during the BCISD community forum Jan. 10.
Job performance would be the determining factor, the BCISD leader told a group of Shady Grove Elementary School staff members
“Every year, there’s evaluation of staff based on effectiveness in the classroom. They’re not as effective as they need to be, we’ll look at a reduction in force,” McBurnett said.
The district is looking at closing the Shady Grove campus as a cost-saving measure. BCISD is facing a budget shortfall in coming years, forcing leaders to consider extreme measures.
“We never want to be in a place … where we have to make major cuts and people will lose their jobs,” McBurnett said. “In 2013-2014, no one loses their job to consolidation. Now 2014-2015, I can’t predict.
“It’s always going to be about the best person,” he added. “We have to evaluate people extremely vigorously. I don’t want to give paychecks to people who aren’t performing.”
The superintendent said administration is committed to keeping the 22-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio because he believes it helps students with their individual achievement.
If the Shady Grove campus closes, students would be moved to the Burnet Elementary and R.J. Richey Elementary campuses.
If campus consolidation is approved, McBurnett said the projected savings in the first year is $80,000, but he didn’t give a savings prediction the following year because administration will see how much natural attrition occurs.
McBurnett said he will give a campus-consolidation update to the board during the regular meeting Jan. 21.
The school board will conduct a workshop Feb. 4 to discuss the 2013-2014 budget and campus consolidation.
“I hope, at least, this number of people will show up and talk about what can we do differently,” the superintendent said. “I have to go before the board and present a balanced budget.”
During the regular meeting Feb. 18, the board will discuss campus consolidation and might possibly vote on McBurnett’s recommendation.
“Taxpayers want to know we’re providing great education and being as efficient as possible,” he said. “We have a lot of available space. We can fill up two campuses.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com