District 197 Approves Initial Budget Plan

The West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan School Board approved $1.529 million in cuts and additional revenue, a general fund transfer of $381,000 and a move toward another referendum in the fall at their meeting April 5. The administration will take these numbers and further refine the direction into a draft budget due April 19.

In meeting over three hours long full of questions, challenges and idea back-and-forth, the board also approved a policy to allow for approval of advertising in the schools. According to Finance Director Carl Colmark, through School Media Inc., vinyl wraps placed on school lockers can bring in an additional $100,000. Colmark said the advertisements chosen would be “healthy and in good taste.”

The cuts:

• A redesign of the school day at the middle schools with 8.77 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff position cuts
• A redesign of the school day at the elementary schools with 5.25 FTE cuts
• A cut of 3.5 FTE positions at the high school and maintenance of the seven-period day, rather than the 9 FTE reduction and six-period day proposed by administrators
• A hard freeze on non-contractual employee compensation including the district’s cabinet, directors and supervisors
• Cuts to consulting services of $50,000
• Reduction of two school buses and better planning of route usage
• Reductions of substitute teaching pay
• A .2 FTE reduction to nurse/counselor/social service staffing
• An adjustment of the compensatory education program
• Some shared administrative services with South St. Paul

Revenue generation is identified through additional District 917 leasing, third-party billing services, and advertisements in the schools.

The board faces a minimum $1.4 million deficit next year. By cutting beyond that $1.4 million and pulling from stimulus money now sitting in reserves, the administration will be able to pursue a plan to provide $500,000 in “innovation dollars.” This money was initially geared toward pilot programs designed to permanently reduce the cost of education in non-magnet school programs, however, the board gave Haugen the direction to use it for both innovation as well as equity in cuts between the education levels.

The board has set out from the beginning of the process to reach beyond the minimum in cuts, something that they’ve been doing for years already, said Haugen, in the hopes that next year will be better. “I think what we’ve learned is it’s not going to.”

The board has dropped their sights from the initial goal of cutting $2.4 million, which would have funded $1 million in innovation dollar grants and reserve buffer over the next two years.

The district’s ability to avoid more traumatic cuts in future years will likely be dependent on the passage of a referendum this fall.  The board passed a resolution to pursue a ballot question, but will have to determine just what that question will be in upcoming months.

Haugen said the resolution was prompted by district residents who want a second shot at passing a levy.

What district residents won’t see in the plan is a proposed six-period day at the high school. Vocal opponents of the six-period day have argued that the change will restrict scheduling and negatively impact after-school activities. Students at the high school have already registered for classes.

The district has argued that 21 percent of students actually take advantage of all seven periods in a day.

One district teacher who spoke during the public comment period before the meeting said he generally supported a six-period day, but that it would require more time for planning to be properly executed.

Time is the one thing the board doesn’t have. The deficit for next year needs to be addressed this spring, and there are five board meetings left before a budget must be passed.