BOARD FINANCE COMMITTEE

PUBLIC DISCUSSION FORUM

Phase II

Linden High School

7201 W. Silver Lake Road

Linden, Michigan 48451

(810) 591-0410

May 14, 2009

7:00 p.m.

The forum was conducted to present the community with the state of the Linden Community Schools’ budget, how schools are funded, and what is being proposed to achieve a balanced budget within two years.

Mike Engelter, assistant superintendent, explained how school funding works. Homestead taxes go directly to the State Aid Fund. Non-homestead taxes go to the schools. Mr. Engelter stated 82% of revenue comes from the State. The worse off the State is the worse off school districts are as the State can take back money. Seventy-seven per cent of the schools’ budget is salaries and benefits, which are mainly contractual.

Superintendent Ed Koledo stated the goal of the Board Finance Committee is to achieve a balanced budget in two years. The idea was to make one deep cut for the 2009-10 school year and smaller adjustments the next year. The Budget Advisory Committee was formed by the Board Finance Community. The make-up of the Budget Advisory Committee was community members, secondary and elementary teachers, bus drivers, aides, food service staff, custodians, maintenance staff, administrators, and secretaries. Mr. Koledo met three times to determine the best plans for the Board Finance Committee to review and take to the Board of Education in April.

Public Input:

Janine Gabel, Argentine Elementary playground aide, spoke regarding the impact Phase II cuts will have on aide positions in the district. With the cuts proposed for playground aides, safety of the students will be compromised. Other areas these positions help with are bullying prevention, dispensing of medications. Should these areas be compromised?

Melissa Stokes, middle school aide, asked why the heating and cooling at the middle school cannot be monitored better to save energy costs. Ms. Stokes also asked about possible cutting of two custodial positions, as she did not see it on the list.

Betsy Sutika, Discovery Day aide, asked if each employee gave up one personal day, sick day or vacation day, would avoid the layoffs.

Laura Teffner, Argentine Elementary media aide, felt the above suggestion would be more of an incentive to employees to not take their sick days. Mr. Koledo stated he would look into this suggestion, but some of this is contractual.

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.