As I write this I am watching it SNOW again. I can't believe tomorrow might be yet another day for THAT school closure call.
Snow or not, tomorrow we have another budget committee meeting to continue the process of exploring budget adjustments. We are going through each department and program to look for those places where we have some discretion in spending. We made the decision to look first in those areas where we have some discretion to assist in identifying the target amount for adjusting each department and program budget. We are making good progress in this review and in reaching our target of $3.35 million.
Since part of the budget problem is caused by a potential reduction in I-728 revenue we have also reviewed where we can make staffing adjustments proportional to what the governor has recommended in her original budget proposal. The 24% reduction is about $660,000 for our school district out of a total projected revenue of $3.17 million for next year. Though significant, it does not mean that we will adjust staffing by eliminating all those positions currently coded to I-728 as some have feared.
One of the most troubling aspects of this process is the unknowns that result in creating uncertainty and anxiety throughout our system. With the deepening economic crisis in our state we will not know what the budget will be until sometime in April when the Senate, House, and Governor’s budgets are known and compromise reached. Unfortunately, this timeline doesn’t meet ours. We need to make decisions before this. We have posted on our web site a budget section to share information on our timeline and process and to provide you with an opportunity to ask questions of us.
I feel badly that this situation is creating so much anxiety for our newer staff wondering the fate of their positions. I have heard stories that teachers with many years experience are also concerned, though they need not be unless the final budget requires much deeper cuts than those identified in the Governor’s original budget. Last week I witnessed after a presentation at Shadow Lake just how difficult this situation is for staff as they were meeting in small groups to share concerns and discuss their fate. I am saddened that this needs to happen and that we must wait a while longer before bringing closure to this process.
Please know that we are using a process focused on preserving the integrity and importance of positions in our system. Adjustments are the result of decisions based on the current reality of programs and departments and how best to proceed with reduced revenue, not on decisions made at the district level that a particular position or positions are not as important as those that experience little or no change.
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2 comments:
The group that is on the committee doing this work deserves our deepest, most heart-felt thanks. I can imagine how difficult it must be. We could have taken the easy way out. We could have have done some quick and simple math and told Principals, "You will be losing x number of posisions, figure out how to make it work." It will not be possible for us to get through this without some people being dissapointed in the outcome. I just hope that everyone, including those that are not happy with the choices made, will appreciate that we did it the right way, working hard to make the best decisions possible out of a bad situation.
I am always bewildered by governments decisions to cut money in the area of education and health care yet other aspects of life such as sports or entertainment seem to flourish at a ridiculous rate.
Due to these unbalanced demands put on school districts, I must say that I appreciate the district's endeavors to make these cost cuts as painless as they can. It can't be easy knowing that some staff may be eliminated. I feel that if we all make some small concessions it will add up to big savings of jobs and a reduction in tensions of those employed.
Thanks again for dealing with these difficult decisions in as fair a way as you can make them.
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