Public worries

about cuts

By KREMENA TODOROVA

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Members of the public expressed concerns over pending budget cuts at District 88, at a regular meeting of the Board of Education Thursday night.

The board is seeking to cut the 2001-2002 budget by $1.3 million, after the failure of a tax increase vote last year.

A potential scale-back of District 88's all-day, every-day kindergarten program, matching proposed budget cuts against the district's priorities, and communicating the need for, and impact of, budgetary constraints to the public, topped the list of concerns voiced by the handful of audience members.

"I strongly urge you to consider keeping the all-day, every-day kindergarten program," said Kurt Johnson, echoing other comments by current and potential kindergarten parents.

Another local resident, Scott Ward, urged the board to publicize information about how the cuts match up against the district's expenses, both in dollar and percentage terms.

Ward also stressed "it could be helpful" to look at balancing the cuts against the district's priorities.

For example, the district needs to balance a commitment to small class sizes against the fact that 80 percent of its budget goes for staffing, potentially making payroll reductions a money saver.

"It would be helpful to communicate ... what you would do in terms of 'overhead productivity'... and how you'd make sure that support and administrative staff is as productive as possible, so that you increase the (support) staff to teacher ratio," Ward said.

Lisa Galvin, urged the board to involve the public in prioritizing a "laundry list" of proposed cuts, compiled on the basis of recommendations by building and department heads.

"I am concerned that you get the information out ahead of time," and base decisions on what to cut and what to keep "on something more substantial than the board's feelings," she said.

The board is considering options which could lead to larger class sizes in all grades, reductions in support services, and cuts in after-hours activities or increases in activities fees.

The district's all-day, every-day kindergarten program could be scaled back to half day, or could include a fee for extended day care.

Also impacted would be building maintenance projects and textbook and equipment purchases.

The cuts could increase class sizes at Jefferson Elementary to 22-26 students, at Washington Elementary to 25-30 students, at the middle school to 28 to 30 plus students, and at the high school to close to 30 students, on average, according to Superintendent Harold Remme.

According to a new report submitted by Remme Thursday night, a flat $30 increase in activities fees would help save $27,290, while a 75 percent increase across the board would save $44,300.

A return to half-day kindergarten would save $120,000; alternately, the district could charge between $170 and $1,700 a year per child for half day of kindergarten, half day of day care.

According to another report Thursday by High School Principal Richard LaPatka, 24 course offerings, most of which are vocational (such as construction and other industrial technology, business and agriculture courses) may need to be eliminated.

When final actions are taken, the district could end up with 16-19 fewer teaching positions, and six to eight fewer support personnel (paras, health aides, some clerical support), according to Remme.

While the list of all potential cuts under consideration would help save roughly $1.9 million, the board does not have to implement the entire list.

The final selections will be made at the next regular meeting March 26.