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EGF SCHOOL BOARD : Teachers, Custodian Jobs Cut: Community Group Helps to Soften the Budget Blow

Posted on: Tuesday, 11 April 2006, 09:01 CDT

By Lisa Gibson, Grand Forks Herald, N.D.

Apr. 11--The East Grand Forks School Board managed to cut nearly $895,000 from its budget deficit Monday, but not without eliminating jobs.

The reduction includes two custodial positions, one of which already has been cut; several teaching positions, including a social studies teacher and a special education teacher, among others; program cuts and the reduction of one full-time teaching position to a half-time position.

"This brings us within 9 percent of what we were asked to do as a School Board and within .75 percent of the entire budget," said board member Cathy Galstad.

The board was told it needed to cut about $1 million.

Among the programs cut were musicals, cheerleading and skating. Board member Don Leonard made a motion to fund those programs out of the School District's dducation foundation, money donated to the School District, although the programs still will be on the budget deficit list. The motion carried, and Leonard said the dollar amounts will be dealt with when the proposals are made by those programs.

The School Board rejected a proposal to cut the number of third-grade classes from six to five. The number will stay at six, with 24 students in each section.

Enrollment factor

A decline in enrollment has put the board in this position, and Superintendent Walt Aanenson made it clear that the budget set at the meeting depended on enrollment. According to Aanenson, the school had favorable enrollment this year, only losing about two students.

"If our enrollment falls to what it has been for the last eight to 10 years, our budget is way off," Aanenson said. "It's very difficult to make these cuts, but it has to be done."

Energy costs also are a determining factor in whether the budget will hold. If gas prices increase again as predicted, the budget deficit could exceed $1 million, according to Aanenson.

"We couldn't ignore the whole problem," Leonard said. "That's not realistic."

Community members are not taking the issue sitting down. A group made up of community members, parents and school staff is dedicated to taking all necessary measures to offset costs and reduce the School District's deficit.

Members of the group Community Actively United to Support Education presented their ideas to the board Monday evening. CAUSE has set its goal at raising $90,000 for the benefit of the schools in East Grand Forks.

The group's fund-raising committee has scheduled events, including a showing of the movie "Chicken Little" at 3 p.m. today in New Heights Elementary School.

The volunteer committee is recruiting parents willing to donate their time in the classrooms to help teachers.

And the supplies committee will be holding a supply drive to help offset money the school spends on supplies.

CAUSE will have its next meeting at 7 p.m. today in the South Point Elementary School Library.

Gibson is a student intern from UND. Reach her at (701) 787-6754; (800) 477-6572, ext. 754; or lgibson@gfherald.com.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Grand Forks Herald, N.D.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, N.D.)

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