USD 257 board members were given recommendations to cut $1,042,900 from the 2010-11 budget Monday evening. That’s $140,000 more than what Dr. Craig Neuenswander, superintendent of schools, called “a worse-case scenario” budget crunch of $902,000.
Neuenswander noted that “state revenue continues to decline” — in February it was down another $71 million — “and if the Legislature does nothing to generate new money, state aid cuts could be more severe than now anticipated.”
Among cuts proposed are 16 faculty and staff jobs. Neuenswander said four teaching positions could be eliminated to save $152,000.
“Some of the recommendations are estimates,” Neuenswander said. But, he noted, “we need some flexibility and we may want to cut less in some areas.”
Another four faculty reductions were proposed through a retirement incentive program, which would give teachers a lump sum of $25,000 to pay health insurance premiums for up to five years. Savings would be $136,000 to the general fund, with buyout money coming from contingency reserves, which contain $500,000.
Neuenswander noted that cuts to “high school business, math, building trades and English; physical education, kindergarten through high school; and middle school English and math,” were justified based on enrollment numbers. Reducing or eliminating elementary art and music also might be considered. Savings would vary according to which cuts were ultimately made, he noted.
The other major cut involving personnel would eliminate eight paraprofessional positions, six in the elementaries and two at the middle school. Savings would be $128,000.
Cutting the middle school technology lab and using the space for instrument and vocal music could save the district $77,300, Neuenswander said.
“Curriculum at the tech lab no longer is state of the art and enrollment has been declining,” Jack Stanley, middle school principal, agreed. Savings would result from eliminating the tech lab teacher and paraprofessional and from not having to bus students to the Bowlus Fine Arts Center for music classes.
No general fund savings would come of the district using less space at the Bowlus.
USD 257 paid $129,000 this year for middle and high school art and drama classes at the Bowlus out of the capital outlay fund.
Moving Crossroads alternative high school classes to the middle or high school buildings — possibly by offering evening classes that would not conflict with the regular school schedule — and delivering lessons by computer, would save $106,000, mainly through furlough of two instructors.
Any personnel cuts would be trying, Neuenswander said, but 75 percent of district expenditures are for salaries.
The district will receive a one-time payment of $105,000 in federal stimulus money for Title 1 remedial reading and math programs for the new year’s budget, Neuenswander said.
THE DISTRICT could add $150,000 to the general fund with transfers from contingency reserves.
That would leave $350,000 for unforeseen emergencies and to ensure the district was solvent enough to meet payroll, important because state aid payments have lagged each of the past five months. The one due March 1 is expected later this week.
