Timelines presented on boundary maps, budget reductions

Parents in the Brainerd School District should have access to better school attendance boundary maps by mid-April, according to a new transportation timeline presented by school officials to Brainerd School Board members Monday.

Also, school board members Monday were given a revised timeline on budget reductions, which includes a new date for the activities/athletics listening session and a date for when the board will hear initial administrative reductions.

Starting Tuesday, the transportation department will begin to design new bus routes, which should be finalized by March 31, Assistant Superintendent Steve Razidlo said as he gave a presentation on the new transportation timeline.

During student registration March 31-April 1 at Brainerd High School, students and their families will be asked to participate in an enrollment survey to find out if they plan to remain part of the school district next fall or decide to enroll elsewhere because of reduced offerings due to budget reductions.

On April 1, the busing routes will be sent from the district to Reichert Bus Service for review and on April 14 the elementary school attendance boundary maps will be available for parents on the district's Web site, said Razidlo. By May 1, Reichert Bus Service will return the new bus route information to the school district. On about July 31, bus cards will be handed out to students and their parents at school open houses.

In August, as it occurs each year, parents will receive formal notification of their child's bus route information. Elementary school transition activities will be held in August throughout the school district since only 44 percent of the district's elementary students will remain at the same school they are at now, due to the elimination of the school of choice option.

A revised timeline for budget reductions has been posted on the district's Web site. This includes a new time and date for the activities/athletics listening session - 7:30 p.m. March 3 at the BHS cafeteria.

Superintendent Jerry Walseth said on March 13 the board will receive initial administrative reductions and staff assignment notifications with the final administrative assignments presented in early May.

Walseth said he wanted to sit down with the newly hired next superintendent in early May and talk about the new organizational structure before the board gives final approval of the 2008-09 staffing.

School board members Monday accepted the retirements of Pat Altrichter, elementary curriculum director, and George Tetreault, director of the Minnesota Learning Center. Walseth said these two administrative positions won't be replaced next fall and are part of, but not the only, administrative reductions planned for next fall as part of the $5.5 million in budget reductions.

JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.