Concessions from District employee groups, voluntary administration compensation cuts, consolidation of administration and custodial services, plus an infusion of $1.27 million from the District’s fund balance led to a balanced 2009-2010 budget.
In a list of 48 potential budget reduction possibilities, the Board of Education drew the line about halfway through in determining the cuts at its Board meeting Thursday, June 18.
The budget saving reductions range from a $1,300 savings in not printing a payroll newsletter to a $1.3 million expected savings relating to the recent teacher contract settlement.
“This budget, with some additional built in savings in the coming years, keeps the core of our excellent academic and extracurricular program intact,” said Superintendent Debbie Thompson. “We have always been a District that did more with less, but that challenge is getting increasingly difficult as the State funds get tighter.”
One savings, $4,000, came from a suggestion from the bus garage mechanics who believe that oil changes can be made every 6,000 miles instead of the current 4,000 miles without harm to the fleet.
Under the approved budget, all deans of students who were previously notified of potential layoffs, will be brought back to work in the fall. Some of the deans have agreed to contract with the District for services, eliminating the health benefit requirement, which will save the District $50,000 in the first year.
“We appreciate the sacrifices and ideas from our employees that have helped bring us to this difficult budget resolution,” said Debbie Thompson. “We are committed to keeping these cuts as far away from the classroom as we can, but ultimately the cuts do nibble around the edges of our program.”
No comments:
Post a Comment