Last week, the Marysville Schools announced cuts to employees pay in response to a loss in revenue the district is facing. The biggest loss comes from the $1 million that Gov. Mike DeWine is cutting from the school’s state funding. Also a contributing factor is the abrupt end to the school year due to the coronavirus that canceled all spring sports.
In order to make up for the shortfall, Treasurer Todd Johnson and Supt. Diane Mankins-Allen laid out a plan that included a hiring freeze, as well as eliminating bonuses to principals and cutting the pay of spring sports coaches. This plan was a head scratcher for us because just last year the district took $1.5 million from operating funds and borrowed an additional $4 million to help pay for two football stadiums that came in with a price tag of $12 million.
Don’t misunderstand us – the stadiums are nice. But when it comes to planning for the future, we were never on board with taking money from the operating bucket to pay for the project. As it stands now, the district could have used that $1.5 million to help off set the deficit they currently face.
We think both groups should have been paid because much like the federal government handing out PPP grants, the district should put its best foot forward and keep employees whole in this uncertain time. Also, we are not sure how canceling spring sports because of the virus is different than being weathered out of playing games. Coaches were paid in the past when seasons were shortened due to the weather.
We understand that the board is in a position to be questioned either way, but when you step back and look at this from afar it doesn’t seem right that the way to save money is from the employees who have the closest relationship with the voters and students. We think the cuts should always start from the top and find it weird that the plan submitted by Johnson and Mankins-Allen, who make $130,000+ and $170,000+, respectively, had no cuts planned for their salaries.
When it comes to the stock market, past performances are indicative of future results and if that is true for the Marysville Schools, then the district could be headed down a troubling road.
With less state funding on the horizon and an influx of more students moving in, we think the district will look much different in a year or two. That scenario could make the standard 35 students per teacher ratio (union contract doesn’t allow more) apply more pressure to perform. This bigger class size we think will ultimately hinder the future test scores and the education of the students.
As such, in a time of crisis, true character is revealed. After all, it’s very easy to propose a plan that has fewer teachers in every classroom so there is a three-year cushion that looks good on paper. Thus, we feel the board should revisit the issue of where pay cuts to staff start.