5 Proposed Budget Cuts for Ferguson-Florissant School District

Facing a big deficit for the 2013-2014 school year, the Ferguson-Florissant Board of Education received an idea of close to $7 million in budget cuts for next year.

While not replacing retiring staff or hiring younger (cheaper) staff is a big part of the savings, there are a number of other items that the board will consider.

Here’s a breakdown of five other items the board could consider as a part of budget cuts:

• Increase Early Education Tuition: One of the budget items proposed for next year is the increase of early education tuition. Currently, the district operates two state-accredited childcare centers at McCluer and McCluer North high schools, where 2, 3 and 4 year olds are able to receive education. Tuition was not outlined on the district’s website, but the estimated savings for next year’s budget is approximated to be $13,000.
• Student Sport/Activity Fee: One of the ideas pitched for students is to charge a flat fee of $25 per student for participating in an activity or sport. That would help the district to a total of $37,500.
• Staffing Vacancies: With no layoffs or staff reductions proposed, the district will save an approximate $545,000 with not filling staff vacancies in the next school year.
• Summer School Reductions and Cutbacks: There are two items on the proposed budget savings where the reduction of summer school as well as other cutbacks to the summer program would help save, $305,000 and $100,000 respectively. Superintendent Art McCoy said that summer school would be focused on students getting on track to where they need to be.
• Better Handling Energy: With an energy management program as well as accounting for costs of inflation with electricity, the district estimates that they can save an approximate cost of $300,000 from the 2013-2014 budget.

The board of education will get a final budget proposal at its meeting in June.