The Lake Orion School Board released a proposed budget reduction plan for the 2007-2008 school year last week.
While budget discussions are occurring at the state level, local districts still have not been informed of what monetary cuts to expect for next year. As reported earlier this month in The Review, the district could be faced with a net loss of anywhere from $1 million to $5.2 million.
This proposed budget reduction plan, which could cut over $1.7 million from the budget, is a phase-one cut that could be implemented if the cuts are at the low end of the scale. The school board will try to hold out making any decisions until receiving more information from the state.
‘The good news is that the democrats and republicans are talking at the state level, but they really are not on the same page,? said Executive Director of Finance Jillynn Keppler. ‘Basically, we are still stuck in a complete holding pattern.?
‘They’re not on the same page,? Keppler said. ‘We are completely reliant on what they decide in Lansing.?
‘Unfortunately at this point, things are not really moving along and that obviously leaves us with a lot of uncertainty for next year, let alone this year,? she added.
In the meantime, school board officials are required to set next year’s budget by the end of June. Furthermore, due to contract requirements, any pink slips that will be issued to certified staff would have to be issued by the end of April.
This proposed plan, which trims from various budget areas including athletics, central enrollment and items district-wide, eliminates ten full-time and six part-time jobs. A majority of these jobs will be combined or absorbed by other departments.
Examples of some cuts would be the elimination of six assistant athletic coaches at the high school level, six assistant athletic coaches at the middle school level, reduce two teachers at the high school level and one at the middle school level, and reduce paraeducators and a teacher consultant. The full list of cuts can be seen at the district’s website at www.lakeorion.k12.mi.us.
School board officials want the community to know that this plan is just proposed at this point; no cuts have been officially adopted.
During the state budget talks that are occurring, not only next year’s budget is looking at a reduction, but the current school year is also.
‘There are some talks about $30-$34 reductions per student for the year we are in right now,? Keppler said.
Until more information is released from the state, the school board will continue its preliminary discussions on what to do in the face of these cuts. A budget update is on the agenda for tonight’s meeting.
Meanwhile, school board officials urge the public to contact their local legislators to let them know that decisions need to be made.
‘I strongly urge people in the community and our own staff members and the board to contact our local legislators and just share with them that it’s hard to function in a reduction mid-year when everything is already going,? Lake Orion Superintendent Christine Lehman said.
To make contacting legislators easier, Keppler said, they have posted information about how to contact your legislator, who to contact and examples of talking points on the district’s website.
‘If everybody could please, please, please contact their legislators and let them know, especially as a parent, the kind of things that might get cut and the kinds of thins that have been cut that frustrate you,? said school board treasurer Mary Jo Burchart.
Stay with The Review for continued updates on the budget situation.