Tonight is public hearing on school budget cuts

Talk about it

For anyone interested or concerned about the school district budget reduction package proposed for the fall, plan on attending a 6-8 p.m. public hearing (today) Monday, March 9, at the Meyer Middle School library. Copies of the proposal will be available. School district officials will make a presentation. Right after people can ask questions.

The budget cuts are needed to fill a projected $680,000 deficit for the 2009-10 school year. The school board is using reserve funds to cover part of the deficit and a series of building-by-building cuts to finish the job.

Next Monday the school board must decide whether to accept the $381,000 budget reduction package that administrators have crafted.

A partial list includes: Eliminating Japanese, German and French instruction from middle school; raising student band activities fees from $50 to $75; eliminating the high school spring play and German Club; eliminating a third grade teacher at Greenwood; reducing the hours of elementary school health aides, volunteer coordinators and paraprofessionals; eliminating some assistant coach positions for the middle and high schools.

For those who can’t make tonight’s public hearing, feel free to contact a school board member: Dennis Behnke, Alan Tuchtenhagen, Rellen Hardtke, Manny Kenney, Barbara Kolpin, Steven Rivard and Stacy Johnson-Myers.

Tags: river, falls, school, budget, cuts, phil, pfuehler