Big school cuts

Area schools cutting about 100 jobs, $9 million

By Tanner Kent

The numbers aren’t yet final, but already they look grim.

With many area school boards finished with their 2009-10 budget adjustments, most others are within weeks of wrapping up the process.

And while the numbers are preliminary and could change depending on the education funding compromise that shakes out from the Capitol — the state Senate wants a 3.5 percent reduction across the board while the House freezes funding and delays some aid payments — it’s clear that economic realities have hit school districts hard.

According to an unofficial tally, nearly 100 staff positions and more than $9 million will be cut from area school district budgets for the 2009-10 school year.

Additionally, two school buildings — in Amboy and Elysian — already have been closed. A third school — in Waldorf — is awaiting a decision from the Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton School Board, which is also considering a four-day school week and eliminating all electives to balance a half-million dollar budget deficit.

Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial finalized its nearly $490,000 budget reduction process Monday. Supt. Les Norman said his district needed to cut only $320,000 to balance the budget but wanted to prepare for a “worst-case scenario” in case the Senate plan prevails and state aid is cut.

“We’ve positioned the district exactly where we want to be,” Norman said.

Norman said his district’s strategy was to save K-12 classroom teachers wherever possible. The district isn’t cutting any teachers and instead will reduce several programs and supply budgets in addition to 11 paraprofessionals. Norman said the district is hoping federal stimulus funds earmarked for special education will allow the district to hire back most of the paraprofessionals.

“We’re fortunate to have a reserve fund balance and be in a growth mode,” said Norman, who stressed that funding for the district’s elementary expansion project could not have been used to stave off cuts. “We’re preparing for a lot of young families.”

Maple River and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown made their toughest decisions last month when board members voted to close school buildings.

Maple River Supt. Willis Schoeb said the district has not yet had any extensive discussions to repurpose the soon-to-be-closed Amboy school site. For the upcoming school year, Schoeb said, the district will continue to provide some early childhood services and custodial service. He added the building also would be available for community rental.

The WEM School Board voted to closed its Elysian site last month. But Supt. Joel Whitehurst said his district is “99.9 percent” done negotiating an agreement that would allow an early childhood program for migrant families to lease the Elysian site for $84,000 per year.

Whitehurst also said that program leaders for the Tri-Valley Opportunity Council — which runs the birth-to-5 service — have offered to upgrade several building systems, including the kitchen and sprinklers.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for the community and for all of our education systems,” said Whitehurst, who noted the district is looking at ways to collaborate services with the migrant program.