Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Will Nov. 7 be remembered as doomsday in ISD 831 or a day for public education to celebrate?

The process to enlist public support for a November operating levy request began in earnest Monday night as Superintendent Lynn Steenblock outlined the likely budget ramifications if district voters turn their backs on a tax levy for a third consecutive time.

The report, commissioned by the school board to show the public what will happen if the current operating levy expires, was presented during a board work session at Forest Lake High School.

The picture painted by Steenblock was not pretty.

The report, while not a formal recommendation to the board at this time, spells out drastic impacts to the districtís general fund. If the current $6 million levy expires, the general fund budget for the 2007-2008 year will be reduced by $6 million to $8 million.

During his report, Steenblock laid out a detailed list of cuts that would total $4.7 million of the target goal. The balance would have to come from classroom teaching positions, he said.

That would mean 30 classroom teaching slots would be cut to realize a $6 million general fund reduction.

To achieve the $8 million cut mark, another 47 teaching positions would be cut.

That would mean 77 classroom teaching positions in all would be eliminated, saving the district some $3.27 million in general fund spending.

Cuts galore

The proposal outlined by Steenblock Monday taps all avenues of the general fund.

The proposal would result in budget cuts and estimated savings as follows:

ïStudent safety and support, $895,125.

ïStudent achievement, $849,500.

ïSwitch to a four-day school week, $750,000.

ïLibraries and media centers, $468,250.

ïCustodial staff, $450,000.

ïBus service, $350,000.

ïElimination of four-period day at high school, $340,000.

ïStudent activities, $300,000.

ïBand and orchestra, $148,750.

ïCommunications, $95,000.

ïSupplies and textbooks, $89,000.

The proposal would: eliminate half of all secondary dean and counselor positions, cut all seven elementary counselors, eliminate police liaison positions, cut the safe/drug free schools coordinator, cut the family support advocate and evaluation and assessment coordinator, eliminate curriculum review and curriculum writing, cut gifted resource teachers, eliminate media specialists and media clerks, eliminate all four curriculum coordinators, eliminate staff development programs and cut the teacher mentor program.

Busing would also be impacted.

The proposal would implement triple busing schedules that would result in staggered school starts. Students living within two miles of their school would be asked to walk to school.

The proposal would also close the District Pool at Southwest Junior High School and result in the elimination of high school swimming and diving teams.

Emotions flow

The report from Steenblock was capped with an emotional display by the usually stoic superintendent.

Steenblockís eyes welled with tears and his voice trembled as he reflected on the damage that the cuts would do to education in ISD 831. He received a standing ovation from the largely school staff audience after he pleaded with the public to support the local school funding and turn away from budget reductions.

ìSomeone helped me just like someone helped you,î Steenblock said of the tradition of public education that has required the general public supporting the schools.

If that trend comes to an end, Steenblock said he feared that the public education system would be operating in a ìsociety that is doomed.î

Steenblock on numerous occasions pointed to positive student achievement results during the past six years and state reports that indicate Forest Lake education dollars are spent wisely and effectively.

ìItís an indication of what we are doing as a system. Things are moving in the right direction,î Steenblock said. ìWe have great kids in Forest Lake.î

Steenblock said some of the proposals would require much work if implemented. The switch to a four-day school week with four 10-hour days would require teacher union approval, public meetings and state approval.

It has never been done in Minnesota, he said. ìThat doesnít mean we canít be the first,î Steenblock said.

Steenblock said the proposal was created for the board as a serious working document. The charge was to limit the impact on the classrooms, but that is impossible, he said, pointing to the fact that 80 percent of general fund spending is on staff and 67 percent is committed to the teaching staff.

When inflationary pressures are considered and there is no certainty of increased state aid in the 2007-2008 school year, Steenblock said budget cuts of $8 million are more realistic.

Board reaction

The school board was bittersweet in its reaction to the report Monday.

The board agreed to meet again within the next one to two weeks after taking time to study and reflect on the proposal. No date for that meeting was set Monday.

Board members Bill Bresin, Joe Grafft and Rob Rapheal were clear in their opinions that the fall levy should contain a request for $6 million to $8 million to cover the expiring levy and provide inflationary protection.

Grafft said he supported a proposal that would produce $8 million in local funding a year. He expressed frustration that schools are forced to go to the public for voter approval for educational programs while cities, townships, the county and state do not have the same restrictions.

First-year board member Julie Corcoran said it was difficult to accept the changing landscape for public education and how times have changed.

ìThis was never an issue,î she said, reflecting on her days in public education as a youth. ìThis is all going to happen,î she added, talking about the proposed cuts.

Bresin said he favored a multiple ballot question of some sort that would cover the existing levy, inflationary factors and perhaps needs that are being discussed by the strategic planning process now taking place in the district.

First-year board members David Gay and Eric Langness would not stipulate on any levy amount they might approve. Langness asked for time to digest the report.

Gay said the Steenblock document would be a ìgood frameworkî for the board discussion. But he said he was disheartened by the 2005 excess levy proposal that sought renewal of the $6 million and an additional $2 million to enhance student services and academics.

Based on the report Monday, Gay said, ìThis shows we couldnít have done that for more than one year. I find that disheartening.î

Rapheal was the most outspoken and challenged Langness and Gay, after four plus months of board time, to step forward with the full board.

ìI donít think thatís good enough,î Rapheal said after Langness asked for a delay and a second meeting.

Rapheal said community talk of school waste and inefficiency needs to be put to rest. ìWe have the facts to back it up,î he said. ìWe donít need to be last (in funding.)î

He asked why todayís kids should have educational opportunities taken from them that were provided to many of todayís adults.

ìIím saying right now I want $6 million and $2 million (for the fall levy),î Rapheal said.

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