Board will vote on budget cuts March 29

Talk about it

The District 196 School Board is expected to approve budget adjustments totaling $15.3 million for the 2010-11 school year at its next regular meeting March 29.

Preliminary budget recommendations were developed by a district budget steering committee in December and January. A $15 million target was established by the school board in late January after selecting a five-year financial plan scenario that assumes the state will cut base funding to education by 5 percent for next year and more the following year.

The recommended adjustments include $7.7 million in staffing reductions, $3.7 million in reductions to programs, supplies and operations, and $3.9 million in new revenues.

The recommended staffing reductions – a combination of percentage reductions to staffing allocations from the district to its schools and the elimination of specific positions – total 143.7 full-time equivalent positions. Of that total, the district’s funding allocation to schools for classroom teaching would be reduced by the equivalent of 78.7 entry-level FTE teaching positions, with savings calculated at $55,858 for salary and benefits per position. The district allocation for other licensed staff would be reduced by the equivalent of 35.5 entry-level FTE positions, and the remaining staffing allocation reductions totaling 29.5 FTE would come from all other employee groups, including administrators, clerical, district office and custodial.

The March 29 School Board meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at Dakota Ridge School, 4629 144th St. W., in Apple Valley.

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