School board, community meet to discuss deficit
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POLSON — Community members met with the Polson School Board of Trustees on April 27 to discuss ways to cut money from the budget. The meeting was held at the Polson High School auditorium.
At issue is the elementary district’s shortfall of approximately half a million dollars. Eight paraprofessionals and six teachers have received pink slips and may lose their jobs.
Retired Polson teacher Carolyn Heinz suggested all the ideas brought up on Sat., April 22 meeting be written on the white paper pad.
Ideas on the board were:
• Out of district travel for board members $10,000
• Summer band $1,213
• K-8 field trips $8,200
• Middle school developmental sports $14,000
• Kootenai Language teacher $12,000
• Indian Education staff person $19,000
• Half time Special Ed Director $39,000
• K-8 Handwriting Tears $6,649
The special education director was rehired in February so eliminating a half-time position was not possible for this school Year.
The handwriting program already had been ordered but could be cancelled according to district clerk Pam Owen.
Trustees had asked Owen and superintendent David Whitesell to assess how much had been paid out in legal fees to Bea Kaleva’s law firm. Whitesell handed out information sheets. The legal fees were:
2006-07 $42,034
2007-08 $51,443
2008-09 $57.458
2009-10 $23,593
2010-11 $28,168 (through March of 2011)
Board trustee candidate Bob Ricketts urged the board to “cut from the top down.”
The question of whether or not the district needs a curriculum director was raised at Saturday’s meeting. State school board regulations require a curriculum director if a district employees more than 100 full-time licensed staff, and Polson School District has 120+ employees.
Suggestions of no raises, pay cuts and running a general levy also were thrown out on the table.
”I hope no one is under the impression a maximum levy would solve all our problems,” Trustee Bob Hansen said.
Whitesell also answered questions about accreditation. Based on student numbers now, he said second and fourth grade next year will be within accreditation standards, but first grade will not.
Accreditation is also necessary so graduating seniors will have a diploma and can go to college, and the district can qualify for state and federal funds.
Special education director Barbara Luttrell noted 85 kids showed up for kindergarten roundup. Cherry Valley principal Elaine Meeks said these are pretty standard numbers for Cherry Valley plus usually 20 other kids show up in the fall.
Numbers of principals were questioned as well as the need for a human resources person. Whitesell said money to pay the half-time human resources director was moved over from the transportation budget so it would not impact the general fund.
Trustee Kelly Bagnell said people had questioned her about out-of-district students. Since students have to reapply every year, they can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
Even the district’s reserves, approximately $880,000, were questioned. Owen said the money needed to be available to meet payroll when no state or property tax money is coming in.
Since 88 percent of the district’s budget goes to salaries, trustee Brian Havlovick said, “You’re still going to have to cut people. There is no choice but to cut payroll.”
As the meeting was a discussion, no action was taken. The community and board will wait to see whether the technology and building levies pass.
