RC schools prepare for cuts as state funds dry up
A budget shortfall in the Rogers City Area Schools could mean a reduction in school aides, a cutback in hours, or fewer members of the staff. The problem facing the board of education is the uncertainty of what Gov. Jennifer Granholm and the state legislature are going to agree upon for cuts in the state aid allowance. Will it be 2.8 percent trimmed from the state aid grant, as proposed by Granholm last month, or the one percent across-the-board cuts recommended by the senate.
ROGERS CITY is currently receiving a foundation grant of $6,700 for each student, but the state aid budget faces a major deficit because of a downturn in the economy. Under Granholm?s plan, the district will have to cut $73,000 from the current budget, which ends June 30. The senate?s plan would make the board?s job a little easier.
?The only thing that we do know is there will be cuts, we just don?t know how much,? said president Scott McLennan at Monday?s board meeting. Planning and finance committee chairman Keith Gordon reported on a meeting from last week where 15 or 16 budget-reducing ideas were formulated and handed over to the district administrators. ?The administrators know what they need to finish out the school year,? said Gordon. Members of the committee already have come up with $28,000 in cuts, but didn?t elaborate as to what they were.
Gordon said any cost-saving ideas or suggestions, should be passed along to planning and finance committee members. McLennan said they want ?to leave no stone unturned.?
SUPERINTENDENT ED SCHULTZ said supplies and capital outlay have been reduced and further cuts will start to become more painful as they look at personnel cuts. The board, as well as others in the state, is hoping the figures out of Lansing become more clear in the near future. Gordon believes committee members as well as the board and ad
?Our heating bills are up a little higher, and our fuel costs are up,? said Gordon of other challenges. Gordon said it wasn?t discussed at the committee meeting, but asked board members to think about a freeze on spending for the next school year. Another planning and finance committee meeting is planned before the March school board meeting, where the budget amendment is expected.
The last amendment resulted in a reduction of $70,000, because of a change in the state aid formula.
by Peter Jakey, managing editor
