Albert Lea School board members are wary of making promises about how they intend to use money potentially gained from teachers’ staff development allowance, saying they are not willing to make promises that can’t be kept.

Wednesday, January 23, 2002

Albert Lea School board members are wary of making promises about how they intend to use money potentially gained from teachers’ staff development allowance, saying they are not willing to make promises that can’t be kept.

&uot;In light of the governor’s budget proposals we as a school board cannot make any kind of commitment or promises we might not be able to keep,&uot; said Ken Petersen, newly elected Board chairman.

Teachers could vote to allow the school board to use around $200,000 in staff development funds. An initial vote on the issue failed in December, but some teachers would like to take a second vote – if the school board tells them what the money would be used for, they said.

Petersen, however, cited still ongoing salary negotiations with district employees as one uncertainty that makes that request hard to fulfill. The original cuts of $1.1 million made in December were based on estimates of salary settlements and expected levels of revenue from the state, Petersen said. Now the district faces the prospect of more than $80,000 in additional cuts to state revenue sources and the payment of sales taxes, which is estimated to cost at least $100,000 more, he said.

&uot;There goes the $200,000,&uot; he said.

With so much uncertainty and the possibility of more pressures on the general fund, it would be unwise to make promises the board can’t keep, Petersen said.