Caledonia Argus

School board finalizes budget cuts

Posted: 2/26/02

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

The school board accepted nearly all of the recommendations of the district budget committee on Tuesday evening, cutting nearly $222,000 from its budget.

Although votes were split on many items, the only one of the 53 items not passed in some form by the school board was the implementation of parking fees for students at the new middle/high school. The fees would have raised approximately $9,450. But the board agreed that if a referendum is not passed in November, the fees will likely go into effect.

Some of the more significant cuts include the elimination of the dean of students, part-time Spanish and part time special ed position for a total savings of $38,704. The elimination of a .3 Spanish position was included by the board but was not a recommendation of the district budget committee.

Also cut by the board was the elementary art program for a savings of $27,000.

The board reduced the counseling program by one-half of a full time position for a total savings of $20,569. This leaves one full-time counselor for the high school and one-half of a position in the elementary school.

A reduction in the elementary music program which would limit lessons at the upper grades is expected to save $10,318. Also reflected in the savings is a reduction of one section of first grade music due to low enrollment, and the elimination of sixth grade music due to that grade joining the middle school.

A decision-making class in the eighth grade was cut for a savings of $17,000. There are three blocks of the class which amount to one-half of a full time position.

The board also agreed to reduce the workday of all non-certified staff by 15 minutes, except maintenance, for a savings of $14,470. The budget committee had included maintenance in its proposal, but members of the board felt that with the new school and additional space to maintain, including a parking lot and grounds, that it could not make the cut at this time.

One section of first grade was eliminated based on low enrollment for a savings of $40,000.

The district will drop its membership in the Minnesota Rural Education Association for a savings of $2,200.

Board chair Cheryl Whitesitt fought to keep the districtís membership in MREA. She moved to keep the MREA membership at $2,200 and cut the Future Problem Solving coachís position, which she holds, at $1,300. That motion failed.

The board also voted to cut the Future Problem Solving budget of $900. The motion failed after 3-3 vote. Voting in favor of that particular cut were Chuck Schulte, David Klinski and Barb Hurley. Against were Bruce Bulman, Suzanne Roesler and Charlie Wray. Whitesitt abstained.

The board agreed to cut the travel budget for administrators from $3,000 to $2,500 for the superintendent and from $1,750 to $1,250 each for the secondary and elementary principals.

It was noted at the meeting that the administrators have voluntarily kept travel to a minimum this year. With about two-thirds of the year gone, the Superintendent Lingen has spend $1,332 of her budget; or 38 percent. Secondary principal Brian Doty has spent $45, or three percent and elementary principal Connie Hesse has spent $161, or nine percent of her budget.

The board also passed a resolution to cut about $12,000 from the business office. The recommendation wasnít specific as to what would be cut, but in an earlier meeting the board suggested that the expenses of that office are high compared to other districts of the same size.

The district will save $15,570 by reducing the number of teachers working on graduation standards from one-half to a one-quarter position. Currently, there is one teacher in the elementary school and one in the high school who work part-time on accountability for graduation standards.

Other cuts to programs include the elimination of flag corps, marching band and pep band; ninth grade girls basketball coach and the student council and future problem solvers budgets for a total savings of $5,571.

The part-time German position which was in the budget for this year but not filled will be eliminated from next yearís budget for a savings of $6,945. There will be a reduction of the elementary phy ed position for a savings of $5,250.

Not all the items related to the budget were cuts. The board also passed several recommendations designed to increase revenue.

Participation fees for grades 9-12 have been raised from $30 to $35 with a maximum of $75 per student and in grades 7 and 8 the fee will increase to $20 from $15 with a maximum of $40 per individual. Family maximum will be $125.

Family passes will increase from $75 to $100. Estimated revenue will increase by $3,825.

The board also agreed to end participation passes for students, supervisors, school patrol and bus drivers, and will increase admission prices for sports events from $2 to $3 for students and from $3 to $4 for adults.

There will also be a charge for admission into sports events where there was not formerly a charge, including baseball, softball and soccer.

The board said it would not yet institute a charge for concerts.

Individual passes for events will increase from $40 to $50.

Superintendent Lingen informed the board that if a referendum passes in the fall, not all the funds raised have to be applied to the Statutory Operating Debt (SOD) plan. An amount must be applied to the debt, but some of the money can be used for other things. She reminded the board that the district needs to get out of SOD, but not totally out of debt. Currently, the districtís debt is $534,000. The budget for this year has been balanced.

Provided that all other factors, such as enrollment and inflation, remain constant, the amount of money raised through a referendum that would have to be applied to the Statutory Operating Debt would be $206 per student.

The failed referendum of November 2001 would have raised $260 per pupil.

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