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HAMILTON TWP. — Little Miami officials are planning to make additional cuts to the budget, following recommendations by the state oversight commission.
The cuts could impact students’ options for foreign language and advanced courses and how the district manages its at-risk students.
Much will depend on enrollment and the demand for certain classes, as the district will need to lay off between 16 and 20 teachers as part of an effort to cut $1.5 million out of the budget, said Little Miami Superintendent Dan Bennett.
“Our hope is that we have as many offerings for kids as possible,” Bennett said. “We know that class sizes are going to be bigger ... If we have 30 interested in AP Honors Math for instance, we’ll offer it, provided we have a certified teacher.”
Bennett said the district will not contract with the Warren County Educational Service Center to send at-risk students to the alternative school. Online coursework is being considered for electives and honors and advanced placement options. That could enable students to take six classes each of four years and still be able to earn 24 credits before graduation, rather than the minimum requirement of 20, officials said.
Six high school teachers, three for science and one each for special education, math and English, have already been notified they won’t have a job next school year, said Principal Brian Martin. Some class sizes will increase for those subjects, but it’s unclear whether all of those classes will be offered, Martin said.
There have been some discussions among administrators whether Spanish and French will be offered next year. Martin said there will be at least one foreign language available, to be taught either by a Little Miami teacher or through a local college or university. The cost would be no different than a regular class fee, he said.
“The silver lining, if there is one, is you eventually have to hit rock bottom. We have cut so much, we are fairly close if not already there.”
Other major changes include a realignment of grades in buildings to accommodate the closing of Hamilton-Maineville Elementary.
Salem Twp. Elementary will house preschool through second-grade; the intermediate school, third- through fourth-grades; junior high, fifth through seventh-grade; and eighth- through 12th grade at the high school.
District officials plan to announce course offerings and building start and dismissal times next month.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4542 or rwilson@coxohio.com.
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