School cuts of $210,000 needed, public asked to comment

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School cuts of $210,000 needed, public asked to comment
3/4/2010 12:00 AM

Nora Bryson, Cannon Falls Beacon

Like all other levels of government, the main discussion at Monday night's, Feb. 22, Cannon Falls School Board meeting was how to deal with budget shortfalls in an unpredictable, inflationary environment and still move forward with contract negotiations.

Superintendent Todd Sesker asked the board to consider holding a public forum to get input from the community. He framed up the discussion by explaining that the finance committee was asked to look over the list of potential cuts to the proposed 2010-11 budget as put forward by administration (with input from the teachers) and come up with a minimum of $210,000 worth of cuts that would have the minimal impact on curriculum. The entire list consisted of $269,000 in cuts.

The Finance Committee recommended, and Sesker concurred, using $269,000 because of all the legislative uncertainty. Sesker stated, "for every $100 in cuts to the formula, it's a $104,000 decrease to our budget." But board chair Bob Brintnall questioned the need to "go all the way to $270,000." And board member Bill Thompson wanted to "keep cuts to the minimum since we have been cutting and will be required to continue cutting." Debate centered around what number to take to the public.

"We don't really want to put cut numbers out there until we know what the target is," Sesker stated. "We need to know what to shoot for."

But board member Pat Dougherty said he wanted "the full plate of options." Board member Cathy Banks concurred. She felt the higher number gave them "more flexibility and leeway." She felt the public should be allowed to give input prior to the board deciding on a hard number; concluding with, "what's a public forum for?"

Sesker then threw out the option of calling for an operating referendum to increase revenues; the main argument being that the district, at $500 per student, lags far behind the $700 to $800 per student average for schools in the immediate, surrounding districts.

In the end, Dougherty motioned, and the board agreed, to publish the entire, $269,000 list of proposed cuts and host a public forum on Monday, Mar. 8, at 7 p.m. in the elementary school auditorium. Concerned citizens are asked to carefully consider the following list prior to attending the March 8 meeting:

Elimination of:

- department heads for $1,000;

-6th assignment at the high school (HS) for $3,000;

-two town bus routes for $10,000;

-1.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) HS secretaries for $20,000;

-0.80 FTE HS custodians for $25,600;

-1.0 FTE All non-special education paras for $13,500;

-1.0 FTE HS art teacher for $45,000;

-0.20 FTE HS industrial art teacher for $9,000;

-1.0 FTE HS instrumental band teacher for $45,000;

-1.0 FTE HS English teacher for $45,000;

-1.0 FTE physical education teacher (retiring and left open)

-0.50 FTE HS social studies teacher for $22,500;

-0.30 FTE Elementary special education teachers for $13,500;

-1.0 FTE HS facility scheduler for $45,000;

-one play or musical production per year for $5,000.

Addition of expenses:

-0.50 Alternative Learning Center (ALC) teacher/assist. to Anne Fick for $22,500.

Open options to increase revenues:

-increase activity fees and extra curricular admission prices;

-put operating referendum on the ballot.

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