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Budget Cutbacks Debated: Proponents in School District Stick Up for Band, Reading, Busing Programs

Posted on: Wednesday, 15 February 2006, 06:00 CST

By Megan Boldt, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.

Feb. 15--Faced with $6 million in budget reductions for next school year, parents, employees and students in the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale school district are fighting to save their pet programs and services.

Most vocal are the groups that don't like the district's proposal to eliminate fifth-grade band, do away with the Reading Recovery enrichment program and charge students who live close to their schools for busing.

School board members will vote Tuesday night on the proposed cuts.

"We've been cutting for so many years, and it always comes down to programs and people," said board member Theresa Auge. "That's the situation we're in, and it's unfortunate."

The district's operating budget for this school year is about $87 million. Next school year's budget needs to shrink by $6 million to cover a $1 million deficit and offset projected enrollment declines and increased costs for energy, health insurance, salaries and other items.

The most significant reduction -- at least $3.8 million -- would come from cutting at least 60 jobs districtwide.

Those involved in music programs across the district have been lobbying to save the fifth-grade bands. Cutting those programs would save the district $116,000.

Tony Diddier, the band director at Oakdale's Tartan High School, said the elementary program gives students the small group instruction they need in their first year on an instrument. They won't get that if they start in sixth grade at the middle school, he said.

"Many districts have cut the arts with the promise that when times are better, those cuts will be restored. And that usually doesn't happen," Diddier said. "If we lose the foundation of our program, the entire structure of instrumental instruction in our district is likely to fall apart."

Another concern is the proposed elimination of Reading Recovery, aimed at younger elementary students who struggle with reading.

District officials want to use the $377,00 saved to start offering all-day, everyday kindergarten, which is now half-day, every day. The new kindergarten schedule would cost about $577,000, though that expense would be offset by a savings of $200,000 by not running midday bus routes for kindergartners.

Linda McDonough Rees, a Maplewood parent with five children who have either graduated or still attend district schools, said the program helped her son become a skilled and avid reader.

She's also an aide at Webster Elementary and has seen how successful the one-on-one program has been for other students.

Lori Raleigh, a kindergarten teacher at Skyview Elementary in Oakdale, said she's disappointed Reading Recovery could be eliminated, but she is excited all-day kindergarten could be offered for every student. She has seen how kids have excelled in Skyview's program -- which has been offered for a fee in all schools over the past four years -- but not every family can afford it.

"We've already witnessed the academic growth," Raleigh said. "We know how to do it. And we know how to do it well."

Many parents also aren't happy about proposed busing changes, which would save $300,000. Students living within one mile of their elementary school or within two miles of their middle or high school would have to walk, find their own ride or pay a fee to ride the bus.

Board member Nancy Livingston said the district's citizen finance committee has argued the district shouldn't make the changes.

"Collecting the fees gets to be an administrative nightmare," she said. "I'm not sure I'm convinced it saves what they really say it's going to save."

Other reductions in the new draft plan include:

-- $600,000 from the staff development budget for teachers.

-- $120,000 by delaying the purchase of two school buses for a year.

-- $60,000 from high school and middle school athletics and activities. This could include a mix of program reductions and fee increases.

-- $25,000 by increasing student parking fees at the high school to $150 from $100 per year.

Livingston said Tuesday night won't be easy.

"I'd like to have them all removed," she said. "But $6 million is such a big number."

Megan Boldt can be reached at mboldt@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5495.

if you go

What: North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale school board meeting. Members are scheduled to vote on proposed budget cuts.

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Where: District Education Center, 2520 E. 12th Ave., North St. Paul

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Copyright (c) 2006, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.

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Source: Saint Paul Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.)

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