Hopkins School District #270

The Hopkins School Board adopted, Thursday, March 5, a proposed preliminary 2009-10 budget that reflects more than $2 million worth of reductions; however, only $1 million of the cuts will have an impact on programs and services for students. More than $1 million worth of reductions were made by shifting funding sources out of the general fund to other areas of the district's budget such as technology, capital, and communications.

Adoption of the preliminary budget comes after in-depth discussion, review, and consideration of community, parent, and staff input by school board members. Final approval of the 2009-10 budget will occur in May or possibly June. Hopkins' proposed general fund budget is $81,591,375.

It is hoped that by May the school district will have more information about the "unknown" funding assumptions that are included in the preliminary budget, said Superintendent John Schultz, Ph.D. The district must adopt its preliminary budget now in order for the school district to meet legal obligations for the reduction of staff positions.

Unknowns

Currently unknown is the state of Minnesota's budget, and funding, if any, for public schools. Hopkins has estimated that its state aid will decrease by 2 percent. The district also is factoring in a decline in enrollment. The proposed budget also does not include any money from the federal stimulus package because of the uncertainty of the amount of money that the district may receive, and how those must be used. The federal stimulus dollars also represent a one-time funding source that would be difficult to use for sustainable, long-term programs, explained John Toop, Hopkins' director of Business Services.

Parameters

Preparation of the proposed preliminary budget was guided by a number of parameters, including:

• reducing expenditures by 2 percent in all categories;
• placing any increase in state revenue into targeted staffing for class size reduction;
• keeping class sizes as low as possible;
• keeping services to the classroom operating as efficiently as possible; and
• having an impact on programs that serve the least number of students.

Staff development

State law mandates that school districts set aside 2 percent of its basic funding formula allowance for staff development, unless there is a vote by the teachers' union to allow school districts to use that money elsewhere. The Hopkins Education Association once again approved allowing the school district to use 1 percent of the set aside, which will be used for targeted staffing in needed areas throughout the school district.

"We are always grateful for the tremendous support from and recognition of the need by the Hopkins Education Association," said Schultz.

5th & 6th grade band remains

One of the reductions, eliminating 5th and 6th grade band and orchestra, was removed from the final budget cuts considered by the school board. Information on reductions by program area is available on Hopkins Public Schools' website.

Sustainability of programs

Schultz said that the school district needs to look at the sustainability of its programs within the context of its budget realities.

The Hopkins School Board has asked district administration to look at clerical responsibilities and efficiencies, and at the possibility of Community Education developing a band and orchestra program for 4th graders. Board members also want to discuss the possible uses for any federal stimulus dollars that the school district might receive.

Difficult decision-making

This has been difficult, said Schultz. "We will be losing staff members. We will be curtailing and revamping programs. Although we did our best to keep these cuts as far away as possible from our students that just isn't always possible. We are mindful and empathetic to the struggles of many in these troubling economic times. And we cannot and do not forget the impact that is having on our students, their families, our staff, and our community members.