The Maricopa Unified School District is faced with the very difficult decision of how to cut approximately $1 million out of the 2013-2014 budget. The main reason we are facing this problem is because over the last four years state spending per student plunged 20.8 percent – the highest rate in the nation.
The budget process for 2013-2014 began Jan. 15 when the budget committee held its first meeting. The committee, comprised of members of the staff, community and governing board, hopes to complete its work March 12. MUSD will then post the recommendations at MaricopaUSD.org and solicit feedback from staff, parents and other community members.
At the Dec. 11 governing board meeting, I began outlining the need to cut the budget and provided a list of potential ways to do so. The list included reducing all-day kindergarten to half day, closing a school, reducing programs and cutting administration, teachers and classified staff. Since, the governing board has discussed details during its regular meetings.
On Feb. 6, I had my first two Parent Coffee Meetings to gather input concerning the 2013-2014 budget. At those meetings I asked for feedback on reducing kindergarten to half days, closing a school and retaining grade six at elementary schools.
For the past three years, the state has only paid for half-day kindergarten. If we reduce kindergarten to half day, we will only need 10 teaching positions instead of 20. However, we would offer a tuition-based half-day program with certified teachers. The tuition will have to be set by the board, but may be $145 per month for three hours of additional instruction (the equivalent of $2.42 per hour).
If we close an elementary school, we could save $270,000:
- Energy $86,000
- 5.5 classified staff $184,000
If we close a middle school, we could save $542,000:
- Energy $97,000
- 5 teachers $240,000
- 4 classified staff $135,000
- 1 administrator $70,000
Closing a middle school would require keeping grade six at each elementary school. There is sufficient space at each elementary school to accomplish this. There are no cost savings by retaining grade six at the elementary schools.
