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Teachers, aides urge Shelbyville Central Schools board to protect staff hours and supports as cuts loom
Summary
Teachers and staff told the Shelbyville Central Schools board they face burnout and salary compression and urged protecting behavioral instructional assistants and full‑time STEM and library roles as administrators warned of low reserves and state funding cuts.
Jonathan Baldwin, a fourth‑grade teacher at Colston Elementary and the SCTA president‑elect, told the Shelbyville Central Schools board the district must protect classroom supports as state funding cuts force budget trade‑offs. "We are on the brink of burnout," Baldwin said, adding that "the amount of bandwidth that a teacher has is already at a 110%." Baldwin urged the board to review administrative roles, search for savings in operations before touching education funds, and "protect our behavior IAs" who handle extreme and chronic student behaviors.
Jared Moore, a Loper music teacher, and Lisa Lee, a Title 1 instructional assistant speaking for a STEM teacher, described the direct classroom impacts of cuts: Moore read that the Loper library aide manages circulation for more than 650 students and supports literacy across grades, and Lee said a full‑time STEM teacher coordinates 30 classes a week and cannot be effective on a part‑time schedule. "A program like this cannot be run effectively on a part time basis," Lee said.
Administrators acknowledged the concerns. Miss Babcock, presenting the April fund and trend report, said the district's cash balance percentage in both the education and operations funds is 4% "the lowest I have ever seen it," and noted April was a three‑pay month that increased expenditures. Superintendent (speaker 9) told the board the shortfall stems in part from recent state funding reductions and outlined steps already taken to limit layoffs, including not filling seven certified positions and reducing bus routes; he said the district saved about $1,200,000 coming into the school year but warned the situation remains uncertain.
Board members encouraged staff with individual concerns to meet with Dr. Vance so administrators can bring specifics back to the board. No formal staffing reductions were voted on at the meeting; public comments and the fund report framed the board's discussion going forward.
