The city will have to make tough decisions on its budget soon. The South Milwaukee School District is already there.
The district — faced with a significant reduction in state aid contained in Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed biennial budget — is recommending more than $1.4 million in cuts for the 2011-12 school year. And that assumes passage of Walker’s so-called “budget repair bill.”
Among the cuts, fee increases and other changes proposed at the School Board meeting Wednesday:
- Closing the school pool, saving $150,000;
- Eliminating 1.5 music positions at the middle and high school and one instrumental position, saving a combined $249,000;
- Eliminating high business and technology education positions, saving a combined $218,000;
- Eliminating an elementary school teacher ($72,500), custodian ($73,000) and high school attendance secretary ($34,000);
- Reducing police liaison services, including elimination of the DARE program, saving $25,000;
- Increasing by $5 annual student fees for all middle and high school students and increasing by $25 fees per sport for athletes;
- Eliminating the high school debate club, photography club, among other extracurriculars; and
- Closing most school buildings on Fridays during the summer.
The complete closure of the pool may not happen until the end of 2011, following a full study of the issue. Interim grant funding would cover pool costs until that study is complete. If and when it does close, it would also mean the elimination of the high school swim teams, all South Milwaukee Rec Department usage of the pool and usage by high school physical education classes. The custodian position to be eliminated is tied to the pool closure.
The music cuts would also mean the end of the orchestra program, but only after further study of the issue.
Driving the cuts and fee increases is an approximately $1.4 million “structural deficit” caused by a $1.86 million decrease in revenue (thank you: Scott Walker) combined with a nearly $450,000 reduction in district expenses, according to detailed information on the district’s recommended budget and cuts here. Looming retirements are actually minimizing the proposed cuts.
From the district budget document: It is anticipated that the district will have numerous retirements in the teacher and support staff groups. The administration has estimated that the savings from salaries from an experienced staff member to a new staff member will result in a total savings of $340,000.
The proposed budget, and the cuts, will be discussed at at public hearing on Wednesday, March 9, at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, with final decisions made on the cuts expected at the School Board’s March 23 meeting.
I’ll keep you posted on this, and please post your comments below.
If that meeting is anything like last year’s, it should not lack drama.
South Milwaukee Blog 
