School budget cuts would affect classes next year

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About $380,000 worth of reductions are being proposed for the 2009-10 school year to cover a projected school district deficit. Each local school will be affected. For example, at Meyer Middle School, all foreign language instruction would be dropped except Spanish. Extracurriculars would also take a hit with assistant coaches being laid off for wrestling and track. Annual fees for students in band would jump from $50 to $75.

A recession, uncertain state revenue, and slightly declining enrollment are contributing to the school district budget woes.

Parents and others can weigh in on the proposed budget reduction package during a public hearing from 6-8 p.m. next Monday, March 9, at the Meyer Middle School Library. The reductions will also be gone over by Superintendent Tom Westerhaus and Finance Director Chad Smurawa.

Westerhaus and Smurawa say the budget reductions were part of a methodical process begun months ago by school principals with input from staff and PTOs.

The aim is to erase a $680,000-plus deficit in next year’s budget. Earlier this year the school board set aside a portion of that amount from funds it has saved in reserve. The intent was to cover the rest by making cuts, which are now proposed.

Other cuts include reducing hours for health aides, volunteer coordinators and paraprofessionals at the elementary schools. A math, tech ed and library paraprofessional positions at the high school would also see reduced hours. The special-ed Harbor Program now at the River Falls Academy would be reorganized and relocated to the high school.

At its regular meeting Monday, March 16, the school board will take final action on the budget reductions.

For more on this story, please see the Wednesday, March 4, print edition of the River Falls Journal.

Tags: news, school, budgets, river, falls, phil, pfuehler