Little Falls School District is looking at tough decisions

LITTLE FALLS -- The Little Falls School Board has tough decisions to make in regard to budget reductions.

The board is facing an estimated $2.59 million in reductions, partly because of declining enrollment. Administrators recommended, in a meeting Monday, possible cuts that include cutting 25 elementary teachers.

"No superintendent can make these decisions on their own," said Superintendent George Maurer. "The bottom line is that we have declining enrollment and that is the reality that we must address. Students are the No. 1 focus."

The estimated $2.59 million in cuts proposed by the superintendent, principals and staff members include:

A proposed $391,400 in cuts for the district in administration costs.

-- $122,000 in transportation. This amount includes reducing the maintenance position, payments to the district's contractors and eliminating the late bus routes.

-- $35,000 in building and grounds. The district is proposing reducing the watering of the grounds, summer help and restructuring the building custodial configuration.

-- $70,000 through a teacher mentorship program that reduce staff development.

-- $71,000 by not replacing the district technology coordinator, who is taking a leave.

-- $93,000 by eliminating one full-time equivalent elementary principal.

The following are the proposed $202,500 cuts in payments made to Mid-State program:

-- $5,700 in staff development.

-- $39,000 in eliminating an Early Childhood Family Education secretary and another secretary.

-- $116,300 in shifting two social worker salaries to the federal fund.

-- $16,600 by reducing a FTE adaptive physical education position to part-time.

-- $25,000 by shifting a portion of a psychologist's position to the federal fund.

The following are the proposed $479,600 in cuts for the high school:

-- $28,800 by cutting a .5 FTE in physical education.

-- $27,700 by cutting a FTE secretary position.

-- $32,250 by a reduction of a FTE in the auto body program as well as transportation, lease, equipment and supply reductions.

-- $96,400 eliminating two FTEs in the industrial technology department.

-- $58,400 by cutting one FTE, the chemical dependency counselor. However, the position will be replaced with a social worker by using federal dollars.

-- $19,000 by cutting a .5 FTE in the medical careers program.

-- $37,000 will be reduced in the music department. A .5 FTE will be reduced in the vocal and instrumental departments. Music in other buildings will be shared.

-- $28,800 by reducing a .5 FTE media specialist.

-- $32,300 by cutting a FTE in world language.

-- $51,700 by cutting a FTE in Family and Consumer Science.

-- $6,000 by cutting a FTE building monitor.

-- $61,700 will be cut in several activities including the photography club, natural resources club, two high school intramural basketball positions, head ticket sales position, graduation standards technician, the alternative graduation standards position, girls intramural volleyball coach and two co-ed volleyball positions.

Assistant coaches in varsity baseball, ninth-grade baseball, varsity volleyball, ninth-grade softball, ninth-grade football, varsity football, hockey, girls' basketball, wrestling, varsity softball and varsity basketball will be eliminated.

Various club advisers as well as a nursing service department head, the guidance department chair, the district-wide music coordinator and a technology maintenance position will be cut.

The following are the proposed $453,000 cuts in the middle school:

-- $31,000 by cutting a FTE science position.

-- $44,600 by cutting FTE in language arts.

-- $53,700 by cutting a FTE social studies position.

-- $58,000 by cutting one FTE trainable mental health special education position.

-- $36,000 by cutting a FTE learning disabled special education position.

-- $17,800 by reducing a .5 FTE in instrumental position.

-- $17,700 by reducing a .5 FTE vocal music position.

-- $28,800 by reducing a .5 FTE media specialist.

-- $10,000 by cutting a FTE in the after school program called Complete Late Assignment through Structured Studies.

-- $12,000 by cutting activities in vocal and band concerts, marching band, newspaper, yearbook, student council, mathematics club, middle level week, academic triathlon, Talented and Gifted program and Wider Horizons.

-- $93,000 by cutting all seventh- and eighth-grade activities, speech and drama.

-- $50,000 in referendum expenditures.

The following are the proposed $1.06 million cuts for the elementary school:

-- $886,000 by eliminating 25 FTE elementary teachers.

-- $70,000 by cutting two FTE special education positions at Lindbergh Elementary School.

-- $36,000 by eliminating three FTE secretarial positions.

-- $72,000 by cutting seven FTE paraprofessionals and all Title I paraprofessional positions.