We are reporting the correspondence we have had with Superintendent Steve Thompson of the Willoughby-Eastlake School District.  We will let the court of public opinion decide if he is being honest and transparent with the taxpayers.
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Mr. Thompson:

“In 2012, we made almost  $14 million a year in cuts and we have sustained those cuts,” Thompson says. “We cut 50 teachers in 2012 and 127 staff members. We don’t have a lot left to cut. Anything we would have to cut at this point would be programming.”

With some help from a Willoughby lobbyist, we did review the “Reductions” report sent to us by Mr. Thompson and found some discrepancies.  Here are pages 9 and 10 of the report detailing where the RIF took place.  WE Reduction in Force Stats

In their financial recovery plan, they show details of 82.5 people being reduced, but the “Total RIF” summary shows 76.5 people.  The Ideastream article mentions 177 staff member reduction (50 + 127), but how they arrived at that number escapes us.

As for the $14 million a year in cuts, we can only see $12,744,500, and we question if the costs to outsource the transportation are reflected in the savings.

(LFC Comment: Perhaps we are too “old school” and expect the numbers to add up, but it appears in this new “Common Core” era showing your work gets you a trophy and allows some “Kentucky windage” with the numbers.  However, maybe we are being too harsh.  Therefore, we will let the court of public opinion decide if honesty and transparency has taken place.)

Categories: Eastlake, Lake County Cities & Townships, Uncategorized, Willoughby

Tags: FT