Big cuts, economic uncertainties and shrinking financial reserves’key elements in the 2008-09 proposed school budget.
Details of the plan were finalized last Wednesday during a finance committee meeting at the Brandon Middle School Media Center. Trustees Beth Nuccio and Diane Wiley (Board President Greg Allar absent) convened to discuss the recommendation as part of a proposed balanced budget for the 2008-09 school year.
Gary Kelley, interim assistant superintendent of finance, reported the $30,822,177 school budget was short $1,272,616 after slashing the budget by $997,025.
The cuts included $700,000 from the building and site fund along with $297,025 in general cuts. The needed revenues will be withdrawn from a dwindling schools fund-equity account, added Kelley.
‘We looked long and hard at what to do,? said Kelley. ‘We just could not justify keeping that amount of fund equity and slash programs for students. But people must realize that, like a home budget, once you spend that money in savings, it’s gone. School auditors say 15 to 18 percent of the budget needs to be in reserve’right now we’re at about 10 percent.?
Some of the $297,025 in cuts proposed by the finance committee includes the elimination of six kindergarten para-pros. The positions help teachers with reading and other educational work for about 25 students during the school day.
Other key cuts include the elimination of the school liaison officer, currently held by Oakland County Sheriff Detective Arnie Terrell. The cut will save the district $40,000 each year. Brandon Township currently picks up $74,000 of the $114,027 of the liaison’s salary and benefits.
Sgt. Peter Burkett, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Brandon Substation Commander was concerned about the cut.
‘The school liaison position focuses directly on the future of this community and its citizens by providing strong leadership, guidance, and resources to the children and young adults that will grow to become leaders in our society,? said Burkett. ‘Without this resource, it’s very possible that some of these children may fall through the cracks and become statistics in our society.?
‘The school liaison positions are one of the most effective crime prevention tools that law enforcement has available. The sheriff’s office believes in the efficiency of these positions and their importance to law enforcement in the communities that we police.?
A public hearing on the 2008-09 school budget is set for 6 p.m., June 9 at the middle school media center.