Budget Cuts Loom for BTHS District 206

The purse strings in Bloom Township High School District 206 are going to get a little tighter over the next three years, thanks to cuts in State funding and cuts from within the district as well. The planned cuts from within the district are an attempt by the administration to reach 'financial solvency.'

“We're working to balance our budget at the end of three years, that's our goal,” said Dr. Ann Williams, the district's business manager.

Balancing the district's budget will be a tall task for the administration, but a plan is already in place to cut costs within the district over the next three years, starting in the 2013-14 school year.

“The finance committee made a recommendation to the board of education at last board meeting that we reduce the budget by one-percent for the 2013-14 school year, two-percent for the 2014-15 school year and three-percent for the '15-16 school year,” Superintendent Dr. Lenell Navarre said.

As the district continues to negotiate with various collective bargaining units, Williams said, the main concern is making sure the district's cuts don't affect students learning.

“That's what we're looking at, some of the things we're looking at is how many people are assigned to one copy machine,” Williams said. “Things of that nature, that won't affect instruction, but could potentially save us on the expense side.”

While looking for ways to save in the future, Williams said the district is also keeping an eye on the past to help guide decisions on where and how to cut. Over the last 10 years, the district spent between $2.5 to $10 million more than it received on an annual basis.

“We need to look at the history and take that into consideration as we look to cut. … There's definitely a need to change the culture and the mind set on how we spend our dollars,” Williams said.

While the district is planning a head for cuts, Navarre said that administration is focused on cutting outside the classroom, so as not to effect a student's ability to learn.

“What we do is do our staffing first,” he said. “See the educational programs that we need and then from there, we total that out and then we cut.”

Looking for more Bloom Township High School District 206 news? Be sure to check out the links below.

• BTHS District 206 Working to 'Open the Gates' to the Community