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| FL school budget cuts of $3.8 million coming |
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| Friday, 05 February 2010 | |
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Cliff Buchan News Editor A plan is now in place that will result in budget cuts of nearly $4 million in the Forest Lake Area School District. The school board on Thursday night voted 6-0 with one member absent to adopt a budget reduction process that will lead to a general fund budget adjustment of $3.8 million. The school board hopes to bring the process to a conclusion with final action on Thursday, March 25. The board also took action to approve the necessary resolution directing the administration to make recommendations on reductions in positions and programs for the 2010-2011 school year which starts on July 1. Where the cuts will come will be determined over the next seven weeks as school-led program teams will evaluate steps to achieve the needed cuts. That process is now in place as the district on Feb. 4 launched a series of community meetings where the situation will be explained and public input will be collected. The community meetings end on Feb. 23. Forest Lake’s budget shortfall could be as high as $4.2 million, officials said. Why? Board members on Thursday received an administrative report that pointed to the bleak financial outlook for the school district and the need to make cuts in the general fund. A combination of declining enrollment and the expectation of no new state aid will push the budget into a corner where cuts must take place. And a no increase state aid picture may be optimistic, said Larry Martini, director of business services for the district. “There is talk of a one to two percent cut,” Martini said. The projected loss of another 50 students due to declining enrollment adds fuel to the problem, the administration said. Martini said the Forest Lake budget problem is a mere reflection of state budget woes. The problems at the state level are compounding the situation for school districts, he said. State projections for this biennium have revealed another $1.2 billion revenue shortfall. Although Forest Lake was spared of any additional funding shifts, state aid payments to a number of area school districts will be delayed. For the two-year budget cycle that begins on July 1, 2012, the state is also facing an additional $5.4 billion revenue shortfall, Martini said. “Jobs are what it is all about,” he said, pointing the steady decline in state income tax payments which have sharply declined as people have lost jobs. Unfortunately, Martini said, the school district next year will be forced to contribute to the unemployment problem. The Cuts The final budget cuts will come to the board next month via a recommendation from Superintendent Linda Madsen. It will be her task to evaluate the work of the program teams and shape the final cut plan that goes to the board. Based on a $3.8 million budget modification model, the cuts will come in the following areas: •Elementary reductions, $1.1 million. •Secondary reductions, $1.1 million. •District support reductions, $600,000. •Unreserved fund balance spend down, $1 million. With 82 percent of the district’s spending tied to salaries and benefits, there is little doubt that jobs must be cut, officials said. For sake of planning, the budget reduction process can expect the following savings in the reduction of licensed staff: •Classroom teacher, elementary specialist, curriculum coordinator and social worker, $46,000. •Special education teacher, dean, psychologist and counselor, $50,000. •In terms of support staff position cuts, the loss of a mechanic would save $51,000 for a full-time position while the loss of a custodian is a $43,000 savings. Cutting a bus driver will save $18,000. •Administrative assistant positions cost from $52,000 to $43,000 for a full-time position. •Paraprofessionals, depending on hours worked, could mean a cut of $19,000 to $10,900 with principals to determine specific positions that could be cut. The Plan In presenting the plan, Madsen said the process would be “participatory” involving staff and community members most affected by the reductions made. The reductions would incorporate inflationary costs and allow the inclusion of new program initiatives provided a balance is found in other budget categories. Madsen said budget cuts would be shaped around the principle of offering a quality learning program for students. The cuts would be made within the context of the following factors: •The district’s strategic plan will serve as a guide. •Class size should be a consideration within available resources. •Resources should first be targeted toward basic educational services to help students pass necessary tests. •Budget reductions should be made with equity in mind so that all students are treated fairly. Social Bookmarking ...       |
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