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12/31/2009 12:00 AMChris Olwell, Eden Prairie Sun-Current Earlier this month, the Eden Prairie school district cut about $4 million from its 2010-11 budget, completing the process of axing programs and dozens of jobs that had taken nearly all of 2009. Departments across the district saw cuts. The decision to cut $163,000 from the middle school band program seemed relatively minor, about 4 percent of all the cuts, but angry parents and students showed up by the dozen to protest at a recent school board meeting. And that was just one program; every student in the district will be affected by the 1.5 student per class size increase. But the cuts weren't sudden or unexpected. It was back in January when the administration predicted a $10 million shortfall in the 2010-11 budget and announced that it was considering putting a referendum on the November 2009 ballot. The district began to reduce spending immediately and in March formed committees to study the impact of potential cuts. This month's cuts were the most painful of many painful efforts by employees district-wide. In September, the district announced that it had renegotiated contracts with bargaining groups representing about 1,400 of the 1,700 employees in the district. "I think a lot of people will remember that," said School Board Chair Jim Mortenson. The employees agreed to wage freezes for at least a year, shaving $3 million from the anticipated $10 million shortfall. Stimulus money from the federal government helped bring the shortfall to $4 million and change. December's cuts finally brought the budget into balance. A 2010 referendum appears likely. All indications point to this year's cuts being a preview of the future. "It could be just the beginning," said School Board Member Holly Parker. State funding, the biggest source of income for the district for schools is tied to enrollment, so when enrollment declines so does the cash. "My biggest worry is where the state is," Parker said, because as the state goes, so goes everything else. The upside - yes, there's an upside - lies in the district's opportunities to become more efficient and more effective. It's easy to be skeptical. "It's hard to explain this to people, but in times ... when we're faced with these shortfalls we're forced to reexamine the way we do business." Mortenson said. In 2009, the district started looking for ways to use its buildings and classrooms more efficiently. "It's a great opportunity to do a better job with what we have," said Board Member John Estall. Consultants and committees are now studying configurations that could shift students across the district to different schools and create additional space for learning. It's part of what School Board Member Carol Bomben means when she talks about finding "a new normal." "We can't just keep doing the same thing," said Bomben. "We have to find ways to consolidate services to make sure [resources] are getting to the classroom." In stark contrast to Eden Prairie Schools in 2009 was its benefactor, the Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools, which doubled its endowment in 2009. "We had a very successful year," said Mike Frischkorn, the foundation's executive director. FEPS began 11 years ago with a $200,000 endowment. It raises money during the year with events including the Taste of Eatin' Prairie. The foundation now gives away more then $50,000 a year to schools and teachers through awards and grants and to students through scholarships. Donors have now committed money to increase the endowment to more tha $400,000, Frischkorn said, adding that anyone can donate any amount at any time. "People can help the schools by helping the foundation," he said. http://www.mnsun.com/articles/2010/01/04/news/ep31schoolsyir.txt | |||||||||||||||||||||
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