Posen school board forced to make cuts
With great reluctance, members of the Posen Consolidated School Board voted Monday night to take the long-dreaded step to make several cuts to relieve the stress of an overburdened budget. Even putting off the item until last on the agenda, superintendent Dennis Stratton could not put off the inevitable recommendation to lay off one custodian and one part-time dishwasher position, saving the district between $15,000 and $20,000, in an attempt to stave off the budget crunch being played out at district after district all across Michigan.
Stratton began by telling the board he had received information from the state that the original $196 cut per student had been reduced to $84 per student — good news, but not good enough to put off the inevitable layoffs. ?We budgeted this year for $150,000 deficit spending from our fund equity that we use when things get tight,? Stratton said. ?But heating costs are $1,000 more each month with less student enrollment and less students for replacement each year.?
STRATTON SAID the district has had to tap into the fund equity each year, so with his mentor, former superintendent Mike Murch, the two looked into the general fund budget ? and decided there wasn?t any more to be had. ?The point at which we are now at ? we?re having a hard time making the payroll, primarily because taxes aren?t coming in,? Stratton said. ?It?s gotten very tight. The only way to continue doing what we?re doing ? it?s going to have to affect people ? no way around it,? he said reluctantly. ?I have to make a recommendation,? Stratton said to a silent and somber board.
Stratton said that with no more hits from the state he thought Posen would make it through the year, but if there were any more cuts it would mean laying off teaching staff. ?I?m optimistic ? things look better in the press about the economy ? but next year worries me very much,? he continued. ?This affects people, it affects family and our community,? Stratton said. ?But I don?t see any way around this right now, other than I have to make a recommendation to you. We?ve done everything we can to not affect kids and our programs.
?For three years we?ve kept $6,700 per student funding, but everything else now has gone up.?
BOARD FINANCE committee member Ken Pawelek concurred that everything possible had been done to avoid the situation but the money was all but gone, and 90 percent of the expenditures are payroll. Pawelek promised there would be more cuts made in September based on changes made to Posen?s finances. Pawelek also said there would more than $100,000 in the negative this year coming out of the (equity) fund. Pawelek figured that next year would bring about an approximate $180,000 plus deficit, but hoped just to get through this year without affecting programs already in place.
Stratton stressed those were only ballpark figures and not by any means actual figures that could foreseeably change as events changed. Board member Randy Styma added, ?We have to take drastic measures or we can?t operate next year.? Stratton said, ?We can?t keep paying out more than we are taking in, or we can?t keep operating.? The board voted unanimously to make the position cuts.
IN OTHER business:
?In order to continue to provide driver education, the board is considering increasing the cost from $60 per student to between $150-175 per student depending on enrollment. A decision will be made at the February meeting.
?Township water is annexed to the school and the board voted to finalize the connection. The final installment payment of $4,935 was approved for Lakeshore Plumbing and Heating.
?The board approved an overhaul of the school?s lawnmower and will pursue options for paying for the repairs.
?An update on school code requirements for college credits for school administration were reviewed.
?A resolution to transfer funds electronically to pay back state aid notes was approved beginning January 21.
?The board received an overview of the School Success Worker position at Posen from Dorothy Pintar and Diane Bedford. The position is funded by the State of Michigan, Title funding, and through grants from NEMSCA and Strong Families, Safe Children. ?I work with students through a referral with parents? permission,? Bedford said. ?I visit the parents in the home and create an action plan to help out.? Bedford estimated that working with the student and family for 30-90 days usually brings about improvement in the child, and that usually elementary students are targeted for an early helping hand.
?Student Council members Amanda Novak and Michelle Mulka presented each school board member with a bas
?Joshua Krajniak was chosen student of the month for January, sponsored by the Posen Chamber of Commerce. The following students in Mary Misiak?s 10th grade English class will have their poems published in the next issue of ?Celebration of Young Poets:? Dillon Wirgau, Patrick Altman, Annette Cosgriff, Bethany Julian, Kaitlin Mulka, Emily Perrault, Amanda Pieczynski, Jeanette Rose, Greg Schmitz and Margaret Schmitz.
?Donations were received from the Knights of Columbus, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Goupell, St. Casimir Rosary Sodality, Arts and Crafts, and Posen PIBA toward the purchase of boys? basketball uniforms.