Shoreview Press > News

School Board plans for deficit budget

Staffing uncertain but district expects to retain most programs

by Michelle Miron
Managing Editor

Published:=20

Tuesday, January 18, 2011 5:41 PM CST

SHOREVIEW =E2=80=94 Budget updates for Mounds = View Schools=20 project savings of $21.3 million by the end of the school year =E2=80=94 = a number slated=20 to fall to $14.6 million by June of 2012 as the district struggles to = maintain=20 its programming.

District Finance Director Carole Nielsen = presented=20 updated budgetary figures to the School Board Jan. 11 based on estimated = 2011-2012 enrollment of 9,850 students, 780 of whom are expected to = transfer in=20 via open enrollment. In other preliminary estimates for next = year:

=E2=80=A2=20 Total revenues are expected to be $106.3 million, while expenditures are = expected to be $113.6 million.

=E2=80=A2 The operating referendum = will be based=20 on a cost-per-pupil of $1,523.

=E2=80=A2 171.6 staff members will = be allocated at=20 the kindergarten-through-fifth-grade level, 86 will be allocated for = grades six=20 through eight and 112.4 will be allocated for grades nine through 12. = Another=20 10.25 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions will be allocated in each = building=20 for reading and math intervention. Elementary buildings will also be = allocated=20 4.25 FTEs for band and orchestra programs and 3.75 FTEs for = high-performance=20 programs.

=E2=80=A2 Maximum class sizes will be 36 at the = high-school level, 33=20 at the middle-school level, 32 in grades four and five, 30 in grades two = and=20 three and 27 in kindergarten and first grade.

=E2=80=A2 The = support staff budget=20 will be $4.7 million.

=E2=80=A2 Free school transportation will = be maintained for=20 those living two miles or more from school; others will pay $225 per = student for=20 transportation with a family maximum of $500.

=E2=80=A2 Funding = for high school=20 co-curricular programs will remain the same; some programs will continue = to be=20 funded in other ways, with fee waivers of up to $700 for families = qualifying for=20 free-and-reduced lunch.

=E2=80=A2 Funding for professional staff = development will=20 remain the same as this year.

=E2=80=A2 Two percent increases are = projected in=20 non-salary expenses, transportation contract expenses and = utilities.

=E2=80=A2=20 Elementary students will be allocated $70.98 each in supply expenses,=20 middle-school students $71.91 each and high-school students $92.55=20 each.

=E2=80=A2 The superintendent will be allocated $30,000 to = use in the=20 district at his discretion.

Though the plan calls for staff = compensation=20 =E2=80=9Cto be distributed based on state formulas,=E2=80=9D = Superintendent Dan Hoverman said=20 the district should try not to commit to staffing and salaries until the = State=20 Legislature finalizes more budgetary information.=E2=80=9CWe = wouldn=E2=80=99t be distributing or=20 authorizing buildings (now) to spend any of that money, and will hold = off as=20 long as we can,=E2=80=9D he said. =E2=80=9C I think our worst concern is = that if (the state=E2=80=99s=20 decision) drags to June, we=E2=80=99ll be making some personnel = decisions by April ...=20 and that whole disruptive business about laying people off then = returning them=20 (as money allows). I hope it doesn=E2=80=99t come to that, but be = cautious ... because=20 we don=E2=80=99t have any control over that.=E2=80=9D

Hoverman = said last month that any=20 termination notices are supposed to be delivered in early = April.

Board=20 President Jon Tynjala said a recent legislative preview during a meeting = of the=20 Association of Metropolitan School Districts, which he chairs, left him=20 =E2=80=9Csomewhat more encouraged=E2=80=9D about possible results in the = spring legislative=20 session. Gov. Mark Dayton, state Education Commissioner Brenda = Cassellius and=20 several legislators attended, he said, as did several School Board=20 members.

=E2=80=9CI don=E2=80=99t know that I see anything = groundbreaking or=20 earth-shattering,=E2=80=9D he said. =E2=80=9CI don=E2=80=99t think we = can expect more money =E2=80=94 the=20 best-case scenario is holding funding steady. What I do hope is, maybe = they can=20 get other things done.=E2=80=9D

In other actions at the = meeting:

=E2=80=A2=20 Hoverman reported that almost 150 parents attended a recent = informational=20 session about hybrid classes to be offered next year.

=E2=80=9CI = was really=20 encouraged by that,=E2=80=9D he said. =E2=80=9CI think it confirms in = many ways ... (the) demand=20 for us to take a look at offering alternate ways kids can earn credit. I = really=20 hope this initial interest in hybrid courses plays out in=20 registration.=E2=80=9D

In a discussion last month, the board = noted that the=20 district=E2=80=99s 2010-2011 addition of hybrid courses =E2=80=94 those = that combine online=20 learning with classroom lectures =E2=80=94 has been an overall success, = though some=20 issues still need to ironed out. A greater number of hybrids will be = offered=20 next year.

=E2=80=A2 Hoverman reported on a 15-month series of = superintendent=20 meetings through St. Paul-based education technology collaborative TIES. = He=20 foresees the use of more hand-held technology as an education tool. = =E2=80=9CCurrently=20 in many cases they (cell phones) are seen as being a nuisance,=E2=80=9D = he said. =E2=80=9CIn the=20 not-too-distant future it will be seen as =E2=80=98Where is your = phone?=E2=80=99 (for) use in=20 instructional approaches.=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=A2 Hoverman said the = schools have implemented=20 more three- to five-minute =E2=80=9Cprincipal walk-throughs=E2=80=9D in = district classes. The=20 purpose is to increase regular communication between teachers and = principals.=20 =E2=80=9CThe initial response to that has been very favorable,=E2=80=9D = he said. =E2=80=9CPrincipals are=20 really commenting on how much information they=E2=80=99re getting ... = and their ability=20 to have follow-up conversations with what they=E2=80=99ve = seen.=E2=80=9D

=E2=80=A2 Director of=20 Human Resources and Operations John Ward reported that the school = calendar for=20 next year will remain much the same. He said the district=E2=80=99s = decision last year=20 to eliminate half-days went over well with parents. Hoverman said = he=E2=80=99d like to=20 see the elimination of late-start days at the high schools, which have = led to=20 traffic issues. Staff instructional days (without students) seem to have = been=20 productive, Hoverman said, with several staff meetings implemented = during those=20 time periods. A final calendar will be approved Jan. = 25.

=E2=80=A2 The board held=20 a closed session after the regular meeting in order to discuss the=20 superintendent=E2=80=99s annual evaluation.

Shoreview Press > News

School Board plans for deficit budget

Staffing uncertain but district expects to retain most programs

by Michelle MironManaging Editor

by Michelle Miron
Managing Editor