Paraprofessional Careers With Children

Jenison school board approves budget that cuts 20 paraprofessional jobs ...

GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP — Jenison Public Schools Board of Education eliminated 20 elementary paraprofessional positions to help balance the district’s projected $46 million budget for next school year.

It means 13 staff members will be laid off, while the other positions will be eliminated through attrition and retirement, Superintendent Tom TenBrink said. The $700,000 in savings created by the reductions will help cover a $3.5 million shortfall.

The budget, approved Monday, is based on salary and step freezes for teachers, although the teachers union contract, which expires Aug. 31, is under negotiation. The remaining $2.8 million deficit will be covered by a combination of concessions and dipping into the district’s fund balance.

The administration also plans to use about $1.5 million set aside for building expenses, which was freed up because of the February passage of the $33 million bond issue for a new Performing Arts Center, buses, roofs and technology.

Gov. Rick Snyder’s budget, passed by the Legislature last month, includes a $300 per-student cut in addition to a cut of $170 approved earlier.

The district also expects a 50-student loss in enrollment next year.

The board already has made $9.2 million in cuts over the past few years and trimmed staff by 180.

Several paraprofessionals and teachers attended the meeting to speak about the impact of eliminating the assistants, who help struggling students with reading.

Shelly Smoes, a longtime paraprofessional at Pinewood, said many students have better reading scores because of their help, and she wants to continue to help children reach their potential.

Arla Star, a 17-year paraprofessional, said her daughter received reading assistance and graduated with honors from college.

“The program is so important for those kids in the gray area, who don’t qualify for special ed,” she said.

Following the meeting, several paraprofessionals who did not want to be named said they were saddened the district has reduced their salaries, which are some of the lowest in the district.

TenBrink said the reductions are a result of a Legislature and governor who aren’t investing in public education.

“These are cuts that are going to impact our kids, but that’s the hand we’ve been dealt by our legislators and governor,” he said.

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