Emotions run high as budget cuts slam MUSD

Budget cuts, proposed personnel reductions and a possible school closure in the Maricopa Unified School District have met with strong reaction in the community. With lengthy and well-attended school board and ad hoc committee meetings, citizens, employees, parents and students have all voiced their opinions about budget cuts and their implications.

There are more than 15,000 parents, staff members and their spouses in the district. “MUSD is the largest employer in Maricopa; most employees live in town so the impact on the community is huge,” says Tom Beckett, MUSD human resources director.

“This will be tremendous for the people of Maricopa in general as well as the people who work for the district,” said Traci Ragatz, a teacher at Santa Cruz Elementary. “We are talking about a significant chunk of the budget. The impact is statewide, and this is not just a Maricopa problem. They will feel it in other districts.”

Due to state shortfalls, MUSD is facing a $7.6 million deficit in the next fiscal year. An ad-hoc committee was formed to report to the board on budget suggestions to deal with the deficit. The committee consists of community and staff members. Among the committee recommendations are the repurposing of Maricopa Wells Middle School and other district-wide cutbacks.

“I just hope we can find a balance between the needs of the children and the needs of the district,” said parent Romany West. “I know it’s a challenge, but our kids are the future generation, and they have to come first.”

“It is a difficult situation to be in,” said Heidi Fawcett, a teacher at Maricopa Wells Middle School. “I believe in the district, but I also have children enrolled. This has a huge impact on employees and parents.”

The ad hoc committee is waiting to receive more information from the district in order to make further recommendations to the board. Lacking hard numbers on current and projected costs, the committee was limited to generating revenue and savings ideas in its meeting last week.

Among the ideas suggested for generating revenue were selling ads on district buses, renting out unused district space and an employee daycare program.

With the governing board’s approval of a reduction in force, $4,035,400 will be saved with the elimination of 50 staff members.

“The reduction of one person affects a community,” Beckett said. “But I have faith in the resilience of the people in this district, and it will come out wiser and stronger. I am optimistic that we’ll be more financially sound in the future.”

Photo by Joyce Hollis