District 88 Board to vote on budget cuts

$1.3 million in

reductions for 2001-2002

NEW ULM -- The District 88 Board of Education tonight will vote on ways to cut the 2001-2002 school year budget by $1.3 million, following a debate March 8.

The board meets 7 p.m. at the annex building at 400 S. Payne. The meeting is open to the public.

The $1.3 million reduction goal was set in January after District 88 failed to gain support for a tax increase in a referendum last year.

The March 8 meeting examined lists of potential cuts developed by staff in each building.

According to Superintendent Harold Remme, if the entire list of suggested cuts is implemented, district-wide spending will be reduced 23.4 percent, Jefferson School services by 21.15 percent, Senior High services by 19.94 percent, Washington School services by 14.93 percent, and Middle School services by 13.97 percent.

These are roughly in proportion of the buildings' share of the budget.

Activity programs would either see budget reductions, or fee increases of 6.63 percent.

District-wide reductions

According to Remme, district-wide reductions potentially include steps such as delaying textbook purchases, eliminating the superintendent's secretary at board meetings, discontinuing summer and extended contracts, reducing a business office clerical position to half time, eliminating a student helper in the business office, the communications coordinator, summer custodial helpers, a schoolkeeper and a social worker, discontinuing the use of department heads, and reducing special education teaching staff, a clerical position in the technology office and supply and software budgets in the technology department.

In the area of activities, three major proposals are on the table: a $1 admission fee increase for students and adults; an increase in participation fees; and a reduction in coaching and advisor positions.

Senior High reductions

Potential Senior High reductions include cuts in supplies, equipment and field trips, eliminating administrative substitutes, reducing the repair and maintenance budget, reducing staff by 3.8 teachers, reducing the media specialist by half time, and eliminating building computer coordination.

Under a new policy intended to save funds, courses will be eliminated if less than 18 students have signed up. This cutoff number now is 15 students.

The cuts will result in fewer course offerings and increased class sizes.

Class sizes would be 18 to 30 plus students in English and history, 18-26 in science, business and art, and 15-26 in industrial technology.

Middle School reductions

Potential Middle School reductions include reducing equipment and supplies, closing the third floor, reducing staff by 3.5 teachers, and eliminating building computer coordination.

Classes in English, social studies, science and math would average between 28 and 30 plus students, language arts/reading classes would average about 25 students, and other classes (family and consumer science, industrial technology and art) would average 20-28 students.

Washington Elementary reductions

Washington Elementary reductions include eliminating field trips, reducing two regular classroom teachers, special area teachers by .75, lunch room supervisors, equipment and supplies, library book and video purchases, keyboarding instruction by .2, a counselor's secretary position to half time, and vocal music by .6, and eliminating building computer coordination.

This plan would raise class sizes in grade six to 28-30, in grade five to 25-27, and in grade four to 25-27.

Jefferson Elementary

reductions

Jefferson Elementary reductions include reducing instructional supplies and equipment, eliminating four teaching positions, reducing the equivalent of one designated area teacher, a lunch room supervisor and a special education para-educator, reducing a counselor's secretary to half time, eliminating field trips, reducing a media specialist to half time, and eliminating building computer coordination.

Average classroom numbers projected are: kindergarten 19-20, first grade 20-21, second grade 22-23, and third grade 25-26.

According to Remme, the cuts would involve approximately 26 staff.

Of this, 18.45 full-time equivalents are teaching personnel, 2.5 are full-time clerical personnel, one is a schoolkeeper, one is a communications/human rights officer, two are lunchroom supervisors and one is a para-educator.

The staff cuts account for 67.8 percent of the projected savings, while the remaining 32.2 percent are reductions in materials and supplies, books, field trips, staff training and fee increases.