EDUCATORS: WHAT DO WE PAY THEM?; TAXPAYERS DISUCSS PROPOSED SALARY FREEZE IN CAPE

Many parents and other taxpayers aren't sure they understand exactly why Cape Girardeau administrators have to trim the fat from next year's budget. Even so, they said teachers' salaries should be one of the last budget items considered for the chopping block.

Administrators made a preliminary proposal to the Board of Education last week indicating the need to reduce the next school year's budget by about $1 million to correct past overspending. The district's operating fund balance is expected to dip to about $400,000 by the end of the current fiscal year June 30.

That amount is about $600,000 less than the state's recommended balance level of 10 percent of estimated expenditures.

Superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent said the district will experience growth of about $500,000 in local tax money next year due to construction, leaving another $500,000 that must be reduced within the confines of the budget. He said some $215,000 could be saved if the board froze spending at all possible levels.

This would include freezing administrative, certified and non-classified salaries, which make up roughly two-thirds of the district's budget; eliminating incentive grants that required matching funds; reducing a cafeteria plan that administrates staff payroll withholdings; reducing the district's maintenance and repair budget; and reducing local expenditures for textbooks.

Some taxpayers say teachers' salaries should be eliminated from that list of proposals. Teachers have more contact with students than any other district employees, they said. That contact won't be positive if teachers leave the district for better paying jobs or if they remain but are unhappy or disgruntled.

"There are sufficient lower priorities available to cut the budget without the need to lower the standard of education offered to our children," said Mike Richey, whose children attend public schools. "There is no higher priority in education than a teacher -- not the building or the textbook or even the administration."

Beverly Delph, who has two sons attending school in the district, agreed. "I think a lot of times they have to go above and beyond the call of duty," she said. "They've got the job of a parent, nurse, social worker, a teacher, a counselor and quite often as a principal. All of that rolled up into one, and they don't get paid enough."

Jay Whitfield, a taxpayer who has no children, said administrators should look to other expenses, including programming, for ways to eliminate the shortfall. "I think they should cut back on spending, cut back on getting new books every year," he said. "I think the sports programming could be cut -- they could cut out an administrator or two, too."

Becky Cantrell, a taxpayer whose school-aged child attends a local private school, said she is never happy when she sees her property taxes. Even so, she said moderate salary increases might be the answer to the district's dilemma. "I believe, if they are average related to comparable districts, a moderate increase would be appropriate," she said.

Michael Sterling, president of the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said the larger issue is why the deficit exists. The district has "broken enough promises" and "disillusioned enough people" regarding its finances, he said; now administrators are being forced to answer for their mistakes.

He said in the end, salary freezes are probably going to be a reality. Teachers will be made to "suck it up" and show their dedication to the kids, he said.

"Salary freezes have to happen because I think the district over-extended itself on other projects," he said. "The children are at stake now."