Little Falls schools face a $1.2 million deficit

LITTLE FALLS - Little Falls School District administrators are developing a plan to address a projected $1.2 million deficit in the 2010-11 school year.

Little Falls superintendent Curt Tryggestad said Tuesday that administrators have identified $850,400 in reductions districtwide so far. How to cut the remaining $360,000 has not been determined.

Tryggestad said the district's goal is to keep class sizes small at the elementary schools.

"The last thing I want to do is to make reductions that affect class sizes," Tryggestad said. "I want to stay as far away from regular classrooms as I can."

The district's 2010-11 budget, which was reviewed in January by the Little Falls School Board, shows that the projected revenue in the general fund based on the school's enrollment is $22.69 million and projected expenditures are $23.93 million. The school's general fund unreserved fund balance from the 2008-09 audit was at $2.76 million.

Tryggestad said budget reductions for next school year could include having the three elementary school buildings make a combined $100,000 in cuts; $50,000 at the middle school; $100,000 at the high school; and $100,000 in the special education program.

Other reductions may include not replacing two full-time equivalent positions through attrition that would save the district $156,000; $78,000 in reductions in the technology area that could be made in staff or equipment; and $50,000 could be saved in the school supply budget.

Tryggestad said administration also wants to look at taking $64,400 from the district's capital reserves and $150,000 of special education money in the budget reserve that could be carried over to the district's general fund. Tryggestad said the special education money was from the 2009 Economic Stimulus Plan.

"This money will still go to special education programs," said Tryggestad. "That is a state mandate."

Tryggestad said reductions also will be made in retirement, administrative positions and by reducing classified staff in special education, such as paraprofessionals, but the amount of cuts in those areas has not yet been determined.

Tryggestad said more details on which positions will be proposed to be cut will be made at the April 26 school board meeting.

JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.