Web Extra!
Riverside-Brookfield High School Interim Superintendent David Bonnette on Tuesday outlined a number of budget cuts and fee increases that, taken together, could shave nearly $750,000 from next year’s projected operating deficit of about $2.3 million.
The approach recommended by Bonnette struck a middle ground between business as usual and draconian cuts as the school board prepares to make important decisions about next year’s budget.
To involve district residents in the process, RB will be hosting a public forum on Monday, March 15 at in the school’s Little Theater. At the forum Bonnette will provide more information about RB’s financial situation, take questions and listen to comments from those who attend.
RB High School is located at
Bonnette suggested a number of ways to increase revenues, including increasing student fees, instituting a pay-to-play athletic fee, getting more revenues from RB’s cell phone tower, selling advertising in RB’s football stadium and field house, and renting out RB’s facilities.
Combined these steps could increase RB’s revenue by about $102,500, according to a handout Bonnette distributed at the school board meeting.
“We’re the only public school in our conference that has no athletic fee,” Bonnette said.
The handout provided no details on how much money any particular fee increase or other revenue enhancement might bring in and did not specify how much any particular fee would be increased.
The handout also outlined a series of budget cuts that could save the district $646,488 next year. These cuts would include not rehiring retired teachers who currently work part time at RB.
Coaching positions and coaching stipends also would be reduced and there would be reduced spending on supplies, staff development and travel. Other savings include reduced natural gas costs due to RB’s new more efficient heating and a reduction in paper and printing costs by “going green.”
As with the revenue enhancements, no specific dollar amounts were provided for each cut, but it appears that not rehiring the retirees would save the most money.
“We may be able to provide some savings by reducing services in these areas,” Bonnette said.
Bonnette that he would not have precise numbers of possible teacher cuts until registration for next year’s classes is finished this weekend. Under Bonnette’s recommended scenario, it is possible that no current full-time RB teachers would have to be laid off.
RB currently has enough reserves to run operating deficits for a few more years. If Bonnette’s recommended cuts and revenue enhancements are adopted and the estimates provided Tuesday night turn out to be accurate, RB’s operating deficit for the 2010-11 fiscal year would shrink to about $1.6 million. RB would still have about $5.9 million in reserves on
Balancing next year’s budget with existing revenues would drastically alter the educational experience at RB, Bonnette said. Nineteen to 20 first -and second-year probationary teachers would have to be laid off to balance the 2010-11 budget.
According to RB’s contract with its teachers union, full-time teachers must be laid off in reverse order of seniority. That is required under
“This program, should that occur, would be vastly different,” Bonnette said.
Bonnette said that he is recommending against trying to balance the 2010-11 budget.
Bonnette said that RB needs to pass a property tax hike referendum soon if it is to maintain anything close to its current offerings in the future.
“Clearly we will need to go to referendum next fall or next spring,” Bonnette told the school board.