District 279 School Board Approves $3 Million in Budget Reductions

Declining student enrollment and a desire to preserve the district fund balance led the District 279 School Board to cut about $3 million from the general operating budget for the 2012-2013.

The decision, approved at the March 6 School Board meeting, will impact the equivalent of about 35 full time jobs in the school district.

The budget cuts will impact areas, according to documents provided to the School Board, such as:

• 18.1 full-time equivalent classroom teachers

• An assistant principal position

• 2.3 full-time equivalent teachers in music, counseling and English learner

• Seven full-time equivalent education support professionals

• One full-time equivalent resource manager time

• Staff development

• Supplies

For the 2011-12 school year, there were in the Osseo School District than previously projected. District officials are projecting student enrollment will continue to drop slightly over the next five years.

As a result of the dip in enrollment, the District 279 School Board decided to adjust staffing and other expenditures, resulting in about $2 million in budget reductions. Approximately an additional $1 million was cut from the district’s general operating fund budget for the next school year to help preserve the fund balance.

Most class sizes in the district are expected to remain at the current levels for the 2012-2013 school year despite the budget cuts due to the declining enrollment, according to district officials. 

The decision to approve the budget adjustments came with no discussion and unanimous approval at the March 6 District 279 School Board meeting. However, School Board members and staff reviewed and discussed the budget reductions at previous work sessions.