LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — As it grapples with an unprecedented budget deficit, Jefferson County Public Schools will cut dozens of the people who manage the money in elementary schools.
"I don't understand why they're taking away such a central position in an elementary school," JCPS parent Berkley Collins said.
Employees and parents worry this will put JCPS at risk of money fraud.
"We have to make sure that our budget deficit is handled," Superintendent Brian Yearwood said Friday.
Yearwood's proposal to save the district $132 million dollars includes getting rid of 61 bookkeepers. Those are the front office workers who handle each school's financial records, including field trip money, book fair funds and after school activity fees.
"The transparency has definitely not been there," Nicole Humphrey, AFSCME 4011's President said. "We've not had input in this at all."
AFSCME 4011 is the union representing clerical jobs, including cafeteria staff, maintenance workers and school nurses.
"It's going to be a big hardship," Humphrey said. "I don't think that that our students and our staff are going to benefit from this at all."
Humphrey said the district plans to replace those bookkeepers with 22 central office positions. She also said the new employees would rotate between five to six schools each day.
"What makes these 22 jobs more important than the bookkeepers that you are getting rid of? I don't see the value in that," Collins said.
Humphrey warns this could put the district at risk of unorganized finances, fraud and theft.
"There's a red book standard that is implemented by the state that we follow on how, how We collect funds," Humphrey said. "We worry that we'll put ourselves in jeopardy of violating that red book and be open to ridicule for that."
Yearwood estimates the move will save the district $2.5 million. However, Humphrey argues the numbers don't add up because the new central office jobs come with higher salaries.
"I'm not real sure how that's supposed to be cost saving," Humphrey said. "We're essentially deleting 61 jobs to add 22 central office jobs back at double the pay rate."
After his inaugural State of the District address, Yearwood said he hopes these will be the end of the job cuts.
Humphrey said several principals have already reached out to her — upset over these cuts. Collins said it's not worth the impact to students.
"It makes me wonder," Collins said. "What other staff are they looking at getting rid of?"
Humphrey urges parents to reach out to elected school board members to voice their concerns about the cuts.
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