Arlee school district facing $350,000 shortfall
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ARLEE — During the April school board meeting, members of the public learned the Arlee School District is in financial straits, but there are several options to recovery.
“It’s like Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which basically gives an organization a chance to restructure itself and look for savings; that’s why I used that analogy,” said George Linthicum, acting superintendent of the Arlee School District.
According to Linthicum, Arlee Elementary School is in the red by $350,000, which will mean cuts, reductions and rearranging in the district for next year. Linthicum presented the board and the public with several options to help balance the district’s budget.
“This is my only disclaimer: this is for demonstration purposes only … there (are) unlimited options. It’s merely for reference to know where we’re at,” Linthicum said, assuring those in attendance that no final decisions have been made.
However, he added that the superintendent and elementary principal positions must be combined, which will free an estimated $80,000.
Some suggested reduction ideas included cutting three full-time non-tenured certified staff positions, which saves about $50,000 a person. But Linthicum was quick to point out that these reductions do not necessarily mean dropping individuals; they could mean taking hours from different employees. Other cuts included three paraprofessional positions, freeing up $74,800. There was even the suggestion of charging student athletes $50 for a pay-to-participate program to generate revenue. But there were some questions on how this could impact certain types of aid money the district receives, in addition to whether it would create a significant amount of money or reduce the amount of participants.
In the end, one option freed a total of $357,872 for Arlee schools, while another generated $355,450. But Linthicum said these numbers could fluctuate depending on other ideas generated or grants awarded.
Linthicum plans to meet with the district’s budget committee next week. The district has until June 1 to have a general idea of a budget for next year, as well as to inform non-tenured teachers whether they have a contract for next school year. School board chair Amy Burland said that negotiations with unions would also start next week.
“That’s why I haven’t attached any names; it would be premature at this time,” Linthicum explained.
The board did vote to enter into an interlocal agreement with Missoula County Public Schools. This is a co-op agreement in which the two districts will purchase school items as a group. The district will receive an incentive of $3,400.
“It seems small, but when you’re chipping away (it helps),” Linthicum said.
Despite the dire news, it was announced that the high school and elementary have seen an 11-percent increase in students, which Linthicum saw as a positive despite several shortcomings.
“The more students you get, the more funding,” he said.
The board also plans to get hard figures of the total impact to local taxpayers when it comes to the cost of taking out a loan levy from the Montana Board of Investments to help pay for the school’s recent settlements of more than $100,00 in payouts to former superintendent John Miller and elementary principal Lisa Morger-Miller. In return the Millers agreed to withdraw and dismiss pending legal claims against the district as well as release the district from further legal claims. Morger-Miller will perform her duties at elementary principal through June 30.
“Thank you for putting (the figures) on the screen. It takes the unknown out of what we’re doing,” said school board chair Amy Burland.
Burland stated that this is the first time in her five years of serving on the board that she can remember figures being presented concerning the Arlee School District budget.
In other news, 12 applications have been received for the superintendent/elementary principal position. The board has not yet reviewed all the applications but will start next week. Trustees will select three or four to interview at a later date in a public setting.
Three applicants have applied for the board’s two open positions. Current board member Rick Desjarlais, who was appointed to former board member Doug Lefler’s position, has applied for the three-year term left vacant by departing board member Troy Felsman. Elias Peak and Gary Wining are seeking the year-long term that remains on Desjarlais’ current position. The election takes place May 8.
