A Q & A was created in the Spring of 2008 to answer questions about the district's budget reductions.  Some of the questions and answers from that document have been updated one year later.  
 

The District began the implementation of some of its $4.8 M in budget reductions in February 2008.  Class size across the District was increased by an average of .8 students per class – larger and secondary than at elementary because of the reduction of about 34 FTE teachers.  Additional non-teaching certificated positions, administrative positions and classified positions were also eliminated.  The proposed restoration of the fund balance to the desired level of 5% of expenditures in three years is right on target.  The original budget reduction plan calls for the reduction of 15 to 20 additional FTE in certificated, administrative and classified staffing combined  over the next two years to complete the fund balance restoration.

What has been done thus far to boost the fund balance back to five percent of the total budget? 

Starting in the spring of 2009 measures were taken and and are still being taken to reduce expenses. Non-employee related costs are limited to essentials, overtime is restricted, and vacant positions are not filled unless absolutely necessary.

The district has:

• reduced administrative full-time equivalent (fte) positions by 7.5-8;
• reduced 32 certificated fte positions, which would mean hiring fewer teachers in the 2008--09 school year, which has led to an increase in average class sizes;
• reduced classified staffing by 20 fte; and
• reduced non-employee related discretionary spending budgets by over $700,000 which would result in a slower rate of purchasing curriculum materials or a reduction in travel and attendance for professional development conferences.

Why is the district continuing to build new schools when cuts are being made that affect the classroom?  Why don't you spend money from the bonds approved in March 2008 to increase the fund balance and avoid any cuts that affect class sizes? 

The fund balance is part of the General Fund Budget, which goes toward teachers, curriculum, special programs such as gifted and special education, textbooks, classified staff, utilities, and basic facilities maintenance.

Construction bonds cover the building and modernizing of facilities; funds from these bonds cannot be directed toward district operating costs.