At the regularly scheduled March 8th Board of Education meeting Tier I of over $600,000 in budget cuts was approved.
1. Outsource custodial services
2. Not replace Associate Principal
3. Cut one bus driver/combine 1 route
4. RIF in MS math-loss of one MS math teacher and math being taught for 80 minutes every other day
5. Curriculum director- teach math 1/2 time @ RCHS
6. Cut perm bus sub
7. No Professional development outside of district-Falcon Forums, or they pay for the meetings
8. Cut equipment/furniture budget in 1/2
9. -cut all other RCHS music electives-
10. Cut RCHS Librarian- only 1 district librarian
11. Cut numbers of coaches/aides to-RCHS fball 3 coaches, RCHS 3 track, RCMS fball 3, RCMS 3 track all others 2 coaches-RCHS golf 1
12. Cut x number of school days from the school calendar
13. Cut classroom supplies from $150 to $100=33%
14. Food service-one person run final program
15. Cut Mass Media courses and that teacher teach the two courses formerly taught by Nancy Pujol (savings of hiring p/t teacher)

16. Cut one FT grade school cook/cooks clock out for lunch/food service come in one hour later
17. Cut number of activities/athletics-no non-varsity only nights of varsity games-except for fball/possible coaches drive/possible only pay driver for driving time
18. Reassign extended contracts-extra month to 2 weeks-2 weeks to one week hourly pay
19. Summer weights-extra month to 2 weeks
20. Athletic budgets- =$13,852 total cut same 33% as classroom supplies
21. Cut 1 technology position –contract for Power School work
22. RIFing 3 teachers at RCGS reducing 2 classes to 2 sections hire back as needed
23. Cut ticket takers/extra duty pay-outsource to service organization
24. Cut classroom aides hire back as needed
25. Cut P/T sec at district office
26. Mailings-calendar/directories, etc.
27. Bottled Water
If further cuts are needed or midyear state tax revenues are short:
28. Cut Parents as Teachers
29. Cut national norm referenced tests grades 2-7
30. Raise fees/lunch prices
31. Staff-licensed and/or classified take % pay cut-would have to reopen negotiations
32. Haven't accounted for increases in health insurance

Cuts affecting Academics/classrooms-15
Cuts affecting Athletics/activities-5
Cuts affecting RCGS-18
Cuts affecting RCHS-15
Cuts affecting Classified Staff-8
Cuts affecting District office/Adm-2
Losing 5.125 Licensed Teaching Staff in 2010-11 and another 5.125 in 2011-12
Total of over $670,248 in cuts-8% of total budget and possibly another $800,000 in 2011-12 or over $1.5 million 19% in two years

Patron/Pep Bus to Hutchinson There will be a patron/pep bus going to Hutchinson for the Riley County Girls game on Thursday at 6:30pm. The bus will leave Riley County High School at 3:00 pm and return after the game. Please contact the RCHS office at 785-485-4020 to reserve a seat.

The RCHS Falcons girls qualified for the state tourney in Hutch this Thursday-Saturday. Girls play Thomas-More Prep Marian (TMP) Hays at 6:30 Thursday. Friday at 6:30 vs Garden Plain-Hillsboro winner. Pep rally Thursday 9:45 AM at RCHS. Tourney bracket:
http://www.kshsaa.org/BASKETBALL/Brackets/3AState.htm [Additional info...]

The RCHS music department will be putting on the musical "Swingtime Canteen" on April 8 and 10 at 7:30 pm. These dates are two weeks later than the originally scheduled dates. Tickets will be on sale at the door.

Riley County Schools are moving forward with plans to begin a child care center at RCGS. This facility would be a year round KDHE/KSDE licensed preschool/daycare center for 3 and 4 year olds. Hours 7AM-6PM. More to come as licenses are approved. Look for pre-enrollment information sometime this spring.

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Our school district needs your help! Now more than any other time we need you to contact your local legislators about the importance of adequately funding public education. Our district stands to lose as much as $1.5 million in state aid over the next two years! What will our school district look like? There will be drastic cuts in personnel, academic programs, athletics and activities.

The accompanying link directs you to your local legislators. A copy of possible talking points is also included for your consideration.

Legislators/talking points

Superintendent Brad Starnes has been named the 2010 Honor Administrator by the Kansas Music Educators Association. Superintendent Brad Starnes has been named the 2010 Honor Administrator by the Kansas Music Educators Association. This annual award recognizes those administrators who have demonstrated continuing leadership in developing, improving, and supporting music education within a wider commitment to arts education. A few notable contributions include budgeting for band instruments, approval for new choir uniforms, addition of classes and new technology, digital pianos, and memorable involvement in the musical “Guys and Dolls”.
The award will be presented during the In-Service Workshop at Century II in Wichita on Thursday, February 25th. The recipient receives a plaque from KMEA and a feature article in the Kansas Music Review.

Mitch's Kwik Shop has teamed up with USD #378 to raise money for our schools. Just save your proof-of-purchase from any pizza purchase and return it to the school office. Each school will receive $1 for each proof-of-purchase that they turn in. Flyer