Again, next year without intervention, Wadena-Deer Creek District 2155 expenditures will exceed revenue. To maintain a meager fund balance in terms of the ability to pay one month's bills, a reduction of $375,000 is estimated to be necessary to balance the fiscal year 2010-2011 budget. That is, if state aid is maintained at the current level and not reduced. Given the predicament of unknown state aid, on Jan. 25 the school board directed the superintendent and administrative team to propose possible budget reductions to the amount of $450,000.
Throughout the budget stabilization process my goal as superintendent will continue to be, to protect to the greatest degree possible, student learning. To support this goal, the focus of reductions will be geared toward streamlining all services and personnel not directly affecting student learning. However, since Wadena-Deer Creek school personnel have made considerable budget reductions over the past six years, we are to the point where instructional staff will need to be reduced to meet set budget reduction goals.
The steps below show the current process for budget reductions.
Step 1: Identify the deficit for FY 10-11 and set a target fund balance. The school board reduction request has been set at $450,000.
Step 2: Organize the budget into possible areas of reduction (each category shows examples of expenses, not an exhaustive list of all expenses).
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- Expenses: non-academic (e.g., utilities, custodial supplies, capital outlay)
- Expenses: academic (e.g., supplies, learning materials, instructional equipment, computer hardware, computer software)
- Subsidized Services: (e.g., transportation, athletics, extracurricular activities, building rentals)
Support Services: non-academic: (e.g., custodians, building secretaries, cleaners, clerks, technology coordinator, business manager, superintendent, athletic director)
- Support Services: academic (e.g., paraprofessionals, counselor, social worker, principals)
- Academic Programs: (e.g., elementary art, physical education, music, choir, band, special education)
- Classroom Teachers: (elementary, secondary)
Step 3: Prioritize possible areas of reduction (to include community recommendations)
Step 4: Identify projected savings per budget area
Step 5: Review reduction options with principals and internal administrators
Step 6: Prioritize reductions
Step 7: School Board acts on final reductions in April.
To assist in the above process, three community input sessions will be held by the school board. The first session will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb 9, at the Deer Creek Community Center. The next two sessions will be held at the District Office Board Room on Thursday, Feb. 11 at noon (bring a bag lunch) and at 7 p.m. All recommendations will be reviewed as reductions are prioritized. Please plan to attend one or more of the budget sessions or e-mail your recommendation to vdahlstrom@wdc2155.k12.mn.us .
