KBIA Local
(2010-01-26)
Listen Now:
COLUMBIA, MO
(KBIA) -
The outline for state education funding was announced last week leaving school districts with the prospect of making hard choices about what they can keep funding.
null
KBIA's Ben Stewart has more on two mid-Missouri districts bracing for what could be lean times ahead.
With almost a million dollars less coming from the state this year, officials with Fulton Public Schools will have to make some tough choices on the way the district spends its money.
The district has an annual budget of about $20 million, but officials are expecting that $1.2 million of that will be cut in the next year.
Next month, the Fulton School Board will meet to hear recommendations for cuts, including the loss of faculty and administrative positions.
"I believe here in Fulton we have been frugal with our dollars and it's very tough to see kids being hurt by the economy, but I understand that's reality."
That's superintendent Jacque Cowherd. He says that cuts to extracurricular activities should not be severe, although ninth grade activities will be reduced.
Middle school sports and intramurals will be maintained along with high school varsity and junior varsity sports.
And in Columbia, public school district spokesperson Michelle Baumstark says plans are being recommended to make significant cuts to offset a loss of nearly 6 million dollars to the district's budget.
"80 percent of our operating budget is people, so we will be reducing some positions in the school district, but we're also looking at ways that we can do things more efficiently and more effectively and trying to make those reductions as equitable as possible throughout all of our buildings."
Despite current budget woes, district officials have their fingers crossed that a bond issue to fund the construction of new schools will pass this April.
© Copyright 2012, KBIA
