More than 14 teachers and 2.

Tuesday, December 18, 2001

More than 14 teachers and 2.5 other staff will lose their jobs, after the school board approved $1.1 million in budget cuts that will increase class sizes and slash programs at every school in the district – and more cuts may be on the way.

David Prescott, District Superintendent, presented the proposed cuts to the board, printed on two pages of the agenda for the meeting. Carol Haun, School Board chairwoman, set aside some time before the vote to allow for public comment, but no one in the packed board room moved to the microphone to speak. After some discussion among board members, the cuts passed unanimously.

The cuts, which take effect in the 2002-2003 school year, will affect all areas of the district, encompassing eliminations or reductions to district-wide staff and programs; programs, staff and activities at each school; and extra-curricular activities at the high school.

District-wide cuts include the reductions to bus service that were previously announced and the elimination of an administrator position that already took place during this budget year. Remaining administrators will take on additional duties, including Title I, class advisor and more grant tasks. Two elementary media processing clerk positions will also be eliminated. Total savings in district wide cuts will be $313,000.

The high school will see both program eliminations and reductions as well as cuts to non athletic extra-curricular activities. Total savings at the high school amount to $191,000.

Among the major high school program cuts are the elimination of the French language program, the yearbook class (which would remain as an extracurricular program only) and the 9th grade computer class requirement. The district will also trim phy ed requirements, business and visual arts classes, and other unspecified electives.

Among the cuts to non-athletic extra curricular activities are the elimination of the directors of the marching band, the pep band, and the show choir; the flag squad advisor; the driver’s education and motorcycle education programs; and the horticulture advisor.

The board tried to choose programs they hoped can be kept alive by interested community groups, and possibly brought back with school funding if the financial situation improves, members said.

&uot;We’d certainly like to bring some of these back as soon as possible,&uot; said board member Ken Petersen.

At Southwest Middle School, $118,000 in budget savings will come from reductions in the number of science, social studies, math, English, phy ed, industrial tech, art, and computer classes – changes that will increase class sizes at the school.

There will also be a reduction in choir contact time and one custodian position will be reduced to half-time.

The four elementary schools will absorb $316,000 in cuts through unspecified program reductions and eliminations. The district will cut 7.5 teachers from the elementary level, and class sizes will balloon to an average of 30 students in grades 4, 5 and 6, Prescott said. Classes for the earlier grades should remain at around 22 students.

In cuts to athletics programs, the boys and girls cross country program will be eliminated, along with paid activity helpers, sports trainers, dance team coaches, pom pon coaches, and out-of-town scrimmages. One concession stand supervisor position will also be eliminated. In an attempt to spread the cuts as widely as possible, the board also decided to cut an assistant coach for eight sports, said board member Bill Leland. In addition, athletic fees and pass prices will increase by 53 percent.

Some additional savings and income will be realized in other areas, including the moving of Community Education to the Brookside Center from the Ramsey Center and increases to facility use fees.

The district also released a preliminary list of possible cuts for 2003-2004, which may be necessary if the school’s financial condition doesn’t change.

&uot;These cuts are initial,&uot; said board member Darlene Greibrok-Hahn. &uot;This is our initial list, and there’s a possibility we’ll have to make other cuts down the road.&uot;

According to district officials, those other cuts could come from closing an elementary building, eliminating or reducing additional athletic and non-athletic extra-curricular programs, further increasing extra-curricular participation fees, cutting more staff and eliminating or reducing additional programs. The possibility of switching to a four-day week is also listed as an option.

&uot;I’m getting asked by the community to have this available before the next referendum,&uot; said Leland.

Prescott added, &uot;We have not done this before. I guess what we’re giving people … is a look into the future.&uot;