Lincoln eyes $2 million in cuts

By Dan DuChene
May. 19, 2009    ·    1:58 a.m.

The Lincoln Consolidated Schools Board of Education reviewed a proposed $2.07 million in budget cuts at its meeting Monday night.

The board heard a presentation from Superintendent Lynn Cleary and Businesses Services Director Cathy Secor at the meeting, which laid out a plan to cut 10 teachers, seven para-professionals and privatize district custodial services among other cuts.

“I don’t want to stand out here in front of you right now,” Cleary said at the meeting. “We don’t sit up here and dream of cuts.”

Cleary said the district is facing a $1.21 million deficit due to enrollment loss, drops in state-shared revenue and decreased tax revenue coupled with increasing district costs. According the district’s budget projections, the deficit could grow to more than $5 million by the end of 2011.

School districts are required by law to pass balanced budgets.

“We can balance the budget,” Cleary said. “I’m hoping and I’m praying that we have some carry over.

“The next year, I’m not sure what I can tell you,” she said.

The budget presented to board of education projects a 100-student drop in enrollment and state-shared revenue per student holding at current levels. Cleary said both of these assumptions could change for the worse.

Aside from the cuts to district educators and the privatization of custodial services, the plan also eliminates funding to all after school extracurricular activities except the safety patrol. Fifth grade band was eliminated as well. However, Cleary pointed out that jazz band is still part of the regular curriculum at the high school.

“I didn’t say we’re eliminating the programs,” Cleary said. “We’re eliminating the funding

“I’m encouraging keeping these programs alive,” she said.

Though paid stipends for teacher involvement in after school activities has been cut, Cleary said she hopes volunteer support from organizations like the Parent Teacher Organization can sustain and operate the programs.

Other cuts were proposed to counseling, psychologists, bus services and office assistance to the Athletic Department. She said she worried about having to potentially find another $5 million in cuts for the 2010-2011 budget.

“We don’t have them,” she said. “We’re cutting to the bone right now.”

Cleary said the dire financial state Michigan has been in may not stabilize for some time. She worried this could be reflected in less revenue sharing from the state in the future.

“The economists and the legislatures have said Michigan will look better in 2014,” she said at the meeting. “They don’t have the answer. They don’t know what they’re going to do.”

The board will consider the budget for action next month. Cleary said if approved, the cuts will go into effect July 1.