Thursday, February 28, 2013
As some school districts struggle with budget reductions, elementary music programs might be the first areas cut.
It has become a common scenario across many Twin City school districts. No passage of an operating levy in November equals a spring of budget reductions. Some school boards have been considering cutting some of the music programs out of their district offerings. A recommendation in District 834 to cut fifth- and sixth-grade instrumental music programs to save $300,000 if a November levy doesn’t pass brought criticism from the Stillwater Area High School Orchestra Director. “The elementary cost center’s suggestion appears disingenuous and may lack the integrity that the Stillwater community expects from its schools and from its School Board,” Stillwater Area High School Orchestra Director Jerry Jones said. “This elimination looks as …
Friday, February 22, 2013
“If there must be cuts," Music Department Chairman Erik Christiansen said, "it is the music department’s professional staff’s recommendation that the roots of the three programs be left alone, with the trimming occurring at the top.”
It’s hard to imagine, but Stillwater Area High School’s storied music department is on the chopping block if an operating levy is not renewed this November. District 834’s music teachers on Thursday night told the School Board they disagree with the cost center’s suggestion to cut elementary school music programs, if a levy is not renewed — offering up the elimination of the 10-12 grade music programs instead. The Elementary School Cost Center's recommendation to the Board is to cut fifth- and sixth-grade instrumental music programs to save $300,000. That measure would result in the loss of 5 FTE employees and impact more than 1,000 students, Stillwater Area High School Band Director Dennis Lindsay said. The elimination of the high school …
Stillwater Area School District officials told concerned residents this week if the $11 million levy is not renewed in November, budget cuts will hit the classroom.
It may be an off-year election, but there’s going to be a lot at stake for Stillwater schools when voters head to the polls this November. An operating levy that provides $11 million to Stillwater area schools each year expires in 2014. That — coupled with $22 million in cuts over the past 12 years and an expected $4-6 million shortfall as a result of flat state funding and rising costs — means the school district stands to lose nearly 20 percent of its annual revenue. When that happens, budget cuts hit the classroom — and that was the greatest concern expressed by about 100 parents who attended two Town Hall meetings this week at the district's junior high schools. In three words one resident summed up what many attending the meetings …
Saturday, March 10, 2012
“This is a painful process,” Stillwater Area School Board Member Mike Ptacek said before a vote that closed the deficit with a combination of cuts, plans to increase revenue and the one-time opportunity for the district to transfer funds.
Stillwater Area School District officials have warned that a failed levy was going to be painful, on Thursday night that warning became reality. The School Board approved a list of budget reductions for the 2012-2013 school year to make up for a $6.3 million budget shortfall. After prioritizing more than 200 ideas gathered from the community and staff, the board unanimously solidified an eight-month process by approving a final list 41 items that will be adjusted to close the deficit. “This is a painful process,” School Board Member Mike Ptacek said before a vote that closed the deficit with a combination of cuts, plans to increase revenue and the one-time opportunity for the district to transfer funds. Some of the reductions include: “To …
45.056859
-92.810642
Stillwater City Hall
216 4th St N, Stillwater, MN
/articles/stillwater-area-school-board-approves-6-3-million-in-budget-adjustments
995522
/locations/6556960
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Stonebridge Principal Derek Berg and Superintendent Corey Lunn sent the following letter to parents to provide "accurate information, clear up misconceptions and present a compromise" to the changes of the paraprofessional model.
- SCHOOLS
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Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Over the past several weeks we have had many difficult discussions about the future of Stonebridge Elementary and our existing paraprofessional model. While these conversations have been challenging, they’ve also been incredibly important. Many good questions have been asked, many wonderful ideas have been suggested, and many new relationships have been formed. Our intention was to keep you informed throughout this process, we recognize that we have not always done a good job of explaining things to you. We apologize for the concern and frustration this has caused. The purpose of this letter is to provide you with accurate information, clear up misconceptions, and present a compromise to the explained changes to the paraprofessional model…
45.062933
-92.820529
Stonebridge Elementary School
900 Owens St N, Stillwater, MN
/articles/stillwater-school-district-leaders-respond-to-concerns-about-future-of-stonebridge-paraprofessional-model
995570
/locations/6539895
Monday, March 5, 2012
Through avenues to share input in the budget cut process, advocates of the Stonebridge paraprofessional model say they have done all they could to save the 40-year-old model, but Stillwater Area School Board members "are not hearing us."
- OPINION
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Monday, March 5, 2012
Dear School Board Members: It is important to show the entire Stillwater community that you are willing to take action on behalf of those who elected you. Thursday at 7:15 pm at City Hall is the vote on budget reductions. Through avenues provided for staff, parents and community members to share their thoughts, Stonebridge advocates have voted (#4 out of 85 issues on the Community Conversations page of the district website), contacted the board (third highest amount of communication of any issue), and attended and spoke at meetings. You claim to be listening, but it is evident that you are not hearing us. The Stonebridge paraprofessional model has been used for 40 years with great results. It provides for a lower adult-to-student ratio by …
45.062933
-92.820529
Stonebridge Elementary School
900 Owens St N, Stillwater, MN
/articles/stonebridge-elementary-parents-send-an-open-letter-to-the-stillwater-area-school-board
995570
/locations/6524325
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Stillwater Area School District Superintendent Corey Lunn share a few observations that have helped him better understand how the district's budget shortfall was reduced from $10 million to $6.3 million.
- OPINION
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Saturday, February 18, 2012
In the days since the district’s revised budget forecast was shared with me a few weeks ago I have struggled—as a district resident, parent and school leader—trying to figure out the best way to explain how this happened. During this same time I have heard from many of you who have the same questions I have about how the district’s projected budget shortfall for the coming year was reduced from $10 million to $6.3 million. In response, I would like to share a few observations that have helped me to better understand how this happened with the hopes that it may also help you. Imagine managing your home finances with a variety of separate check books assigned to specific accounts. For example, check book 1 can only be used to pay for gas and…
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Stillwater Area Schools Superintendent Corey Lunn writes about what's next in the budget process.
- OPINION
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Thursday, February 9, 2012
Over the past several months we’ve been engaging stakeholders in a budget adjustment process. This has involved soliciting more than 200 ideas from the community on ways we can become more efficient, raise revenues and reduce the district’s budget. It has also involved a community-based group of citizens – the Budget Adjustment Advisory Committee (BAAC) - who have further discussed, questioned and prioritized these many ideas into a recommendation for the school board to consider. A draft of this recommendation was presented to the community in January, and a final version was officially presented to the school board on Feb. 2. You can view the recommendation online at www.stillwater.k12.mn.us. Numerous discussions will take place in the …
Friday, February 3, 2012
Stillwater Area High School students participating in spring sports will pay between $15 to $60 more than last year. Fee increases for fall and winter sports are still being considered.
The Stillwater Area School Board last night approved a rate increase for spring sports. The vote means high school sports will cost between $15 to $60 more than last year to participate in a spring sport. One of the items on the recommended budget adjustment list for this fall is to increase fall and winter sports and activities fees. The new fee schedule considers the cost to run the sport in determining the price, according to school district officials. It is modeled after structures in place at schools across the metro area and factors in the length of the season as well as the cost of equipment, coaches and transportation expenses when determining fees. Rather than charging a flat fee of $150 per sport, new prices range from $165 up to…
45.056859
-92.810642
Stillwater City Hall
216 4th St N, Stillwater, MN
/articles/school-budget-stillwater-sports-fees-will-rise-this-spring
995522
/locations/6311796
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
A recommended list of more than 100 items that may be included in budget cuts will go before the Stillwater Area School Board Thursday night. A final decision on the budget cut process is expected on March 8.
Stillwater Area School District administrators will present a recommedation of more than 100 items that may be cut from the district’s budget to school board members Thursday night. Among the items on the list are modifications to transportation and school start and end times; reduction in teaching, administration and support staff; increases in fees for activities; and reductions in programs across the district. The presentation will be based on recommensations from the Budget Adjustment Advisory Committee. The list of items was identified by community members and district staff to serve as a guide that will assist the board as it moves forward with budget cuts for this fall as well as in future years. The official recommendation includes…
Mike B.
4:53 am on Saturday, May 18, 2013
You are correct, Jody. This country would be much better off if each and every school was private, and run like a business. The students would receive a better education at less money. And the students would not be indoctrinated with all this P.C. garbage that is being thrown in their faces. As it is, everything except the three R's are being taught in schools. And history has been whitewashed … more ›