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District Proposes Budget Cuts: Mequon-Thiensville Could Raise Fees, Trim Positions

Posted on: Wednesday, 3 May 2006, 15:00 CDT

By Katharine Goodloe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

May 3--The Mequon-Thiensville School District will cut teachers, raise student and athletic fees, and freeze building spending at current levels under a proposed budget for the 2006-'07 school year.

The budget was made public Monday, almost three months after voters rejected a $7.5 million referendum to increase taxes to maintain the district's programs and services.

Officials have said the district faces a $1 million shortfall next year, as its expenses outpace its state-capped revenue.

Under the proposal, the district would cut nearly 12 teaching positions, two custodians and more than five support positions, and scale back hours for its special education manager.

Another 1.8 positions devoted to reading support and drug and alcohol intervention would be cut after federal grant funding for those positions was lost.

Students would face increased costs, with fees for elementary band and orchestra jumping from $8 to $25. That increase would help cover the cost of transporting band and orchestra students from the district's three elementary schools to practice together at the middle school, Superintendent Robert Slotterback said.

Resource fees would also be increased, $10 for elementary and middle school students and $20 for high school students.

Athletic and activity fees for high school students would increase $10, bringing athletic fees to $85 per sport and fees for debate, forensics and drama to $60.

Budgets for individual schools, which cover athletics, classroom supplies, equipment, field trips, textbooks and library books, would be frozen at current levels.

The combination of reducing staff and increasing fees is expected to cover the district's shortfall, Slotterback said.

The budget would designate $500,000 for maintenance projects, including roof work at Homestead High School, Donges Bay Elementary and Oriole Lane Elementary.

The budget reflects a total levy of $38,087,262, up about 1.6% from last year.

The public may comment on the proposed budget at a hearing at 7 p.m. Monday at Homestead High School in Mequon.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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