More than teachers will be on the Rock Ridge School Board agenda Monday. Everything will be on the table.
After a two-hour working session Friday, directors said they want to consider staff and non-staff cuts, including new proposals aimed at reducing teacher reductions.
“We’ll discuss on all of it,” said Chair John Uhan. “Yes or no.”
It won’t be the final budget when the board is finished. Some proposed savings are subject to negotiations, but directors should have a clearer path after tabling 15 staff cuts this week.
Four early retirement/resignations were accepted March 24, saving $144,000 on the budget. A memorandum of understanding for principal-level buyouts was rejected, even as Rock Ridge sought to cut two principals at $300,000 savings.
Superintendent Dr. Noel Schmidt had encouraged the board to vote on staff by an April 1 deadline for tenured teachers, while waiting on some decisions like combining positions, coaches and software.
“They should all be done now,” said Director Nicole Culbert Dahl. Budget reduction items including the sale of the Gilbert properties ($200,000) and zero and zero raises for staff and administration for two years ($300,000) would not be decided on. “The perception is we’re just looking at teachers.”
Schmidt circulated another round of budget scenarios for the district, and included the depth of cuts necessary to avoid statutory operating debt. Changes from his last scenario draft included eliminating the curriculum coordinator job over combining it ($100,000), reduce one principal ($150,000) and only $45,000 in savings from combining activities and Community Education directors.
The reduction in savings on the latter is because in a combined position scenario, the Community Education budget could only pay for half the salary.
He also listed $50,000 in non-staff cuts through shedding the Avid and IXL program software.
Director Jennifer Bonner circulated a 22-point list of budget cut ideas that mirrored Schmidt’s in part, but also included eliminating student support services, moving K-8 sports under the Community Education umbrella, one full-time secretary in the administration building and going down to one dean of students.
“We need to do that, cutting from the top” Bonner said, adding that her reduction ideas totaled $2.3 million without any teachers.
Directors seemed largely in line on many of the budget line items, but remained split in discussion on combining transportation with buildings and grounds ($90,000).
They also discussed keeping two counselors and the idea of splitting their time among the schools.
“If $2.8 million is your target, you’re just going to have different names on the list,” Schmidt said. “Even if you do these other cuts. Stranding is a big deal in this one area.”
Getting to $2.8 million in adjustments, he added, would avoid statutory operating debt. Cutting by just $2 million would delay hitting the state debt threshold (2.5% of the budget) until the 2028-29 school year. If the threshold is reached, the state comes in and helps guide the district toward a balanced a budget, rather than independently.
Directors warmed to idea from Monday of a new referendum proposal. Should the state adjust its law allowing consolidated districts to renew a one-time operating levy, Schmidt said the board could enact it, then ask for a new levy to replace it. Then, in the back of my head, let the people decide with the referendum.”
