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| Northland Board Hears Preliminary CutsBy Paul Boblett, Editor The Northland Community Schools Board of Education began the tough task of cutting the 2010-11 school year budget at their regular monthly meeting in Longville last Thursday night. Superintendent Theresa Meyers explained to the crowd of around 50 residents and staff who attended the meeting, that cuts totaling $824,016 will have to be made in order to balance the budget for next year. Included in preliminary recommendations from Meyers were closing the Longville Elementary school, saving the district approximately $420,621; as part of that recommendation an additional $44,000 would be saved in technology equipment being transferred to Remer. In closing the Longville campus, an additional three classrooms would be needed in Remer to accommodate the additional students. She told the board that administration has developed a plan to make this work but it is imperative that the district prioritize future infrastructure needs. The board directed her and the Strategic Planning Team to continue looking into closing the school. Other recomendations include: Discontinuing late buses at a savings of $43,900; Reducing/realigning athletics programs - $24,989; Eliminating one full-time social worker - $47,000; Acting on early retirements paid out in 2009-10 - $28,342; Realigning the Superintendent, Special Education Director and Business Manager responsibilities - $11,156; Realigning HS elcetive options - $4,000; Reducing Spanish/ITV presentations - $9,300; Reducing extra curricular activities $3,890; Reducing high school general supplies - $14,000; Not returning parking pass fees to students - $1,500; and eliminating the elementary Principal position - $9,575. The amount of the above cuts is $795,573, nearly $30,000 short of the target amount. Meyers identified cuts she would not recommend due to negative impact on students which included increasing class size and reducing staff which could save the district $97,800; Eliminate all day-every day Kindergarten - $62,500; Elimintaing all athletic programs $114,875; Eliminating all extra curricular activities $18,800; and eliminate all elective classes - $123,000. Four-day school weeks were recommended. High School Prinicpal Joe Akre presented information to the board on other districts (MacCray and Warroad) who recently went to the four day schedule. Akre stated that in conversations with administration from both districts, they were able to meet student needs and save money on everything from transportation, heating costs, and less sick days for staff and students. Projected savings concerning the four-day week presented to the board was $133,000 for 2010-11. The board directed Akre and staff to continue gatheritng information and working on a plan. Final recommendations will be presented to the board in the next couple months. The Board approved the retirement of Elementary Principal Mary Wilke with regrets at the end of this school year. The board also approved a new Elementary class size guideline that calls for classes with 1-19 students to have one teacher; classes with 20-27 students would have one teacher and one paraprofessional; and classes with over 28 students would be split into two separate classes. Grades 7-12 will have an acceptable ratio of 33 students to one teacher. The district strategic Planning Committee will continue with area meetings that are open to the public through March 24 as follows: Jan. 27 in Federal Dam, Feb. 10 in Longville, Feb. 24 in Remer, Mar. 10 in Outing, Mar, 24 in Federal Dam. All meetings start at 6:30 pm. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northland Press | P.O. Box 145 | Outing, MN 56662 | (218) 692-5842 Email: news@northlandpress.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
