Budget Woes Again for CCSD

by Rachel Dahl -- The Churchill County School District is anticipating a budget short-fall this year and is working to cut $2.5 million from the 2019-20 school district budget. In what Superintendent Summer Stephens called, “a perfect storm” of budget problems, she presented several ideas to the school board last week which will then be presented formally this week at the budget workshop. The budget workshop will be held Thursday, April 4^th at 4:00 p.m. in The Pit at the Old High School. The full Board will meet again on April 9^th to consider and act upon the recommendation of the budget committee. As Stephens explained last week, there are several variables leading to the budget crunch including the legislative possibility of changes in the funding formula, there has been a significant mistake made in the DSA (Distributive School Account) allocation, and the expiration of grant funded programs. During the meeting Stephens reported on the budget situation and provided suggestions for possible cuts that would bring the budget in line. She stated that the intent is to “draw first from non-personnel items and cut as far from the classroom as is prudent.” Because 88% of the CCSD budget is made up of salaries and benefits, that leaves only 12% of the budget as a beginning target. In an effort to achieve the $2.5 million mark in cuts, Stephens suggested reducing by 15% the business services and warehouse budget, 15% in Human Resources, 5% in transportation – not touching fuel and maintenance, a 5% cut in special education services, and a 30% cut in the superintendent and board budget. Additionally, instead of filling the open principal position at Lahontan Elementary, shifting Kimi Melendy to cover that spot while the duties of her current position, Director of Education Services, would be split between the other district office staff with Kevin Lords, Lisa Bliss, Derild Parsons, and Stephens picking up the slack. Other cuts would include a school secretary and a custodian, data specialists, a department secretary, a duty assistant, and an office manager. All personnel openings would be examined to see if there would be cost savings with retirement and resignations. There is a possibility of cuts in special education that would include two Instructional Assistants, three teachers, and a speech therapist, depending on the number of special education students that end up being enrolled in the district. Also on the potential list of cuts suggested by Stephens, are open positions including a library media spot, P.E., a nurse, and a mechanic at the bus sheds. It is possible that the district could close the warehouse, and the possibility of cutting all food service employees and moving them to contract employees with the food service contractor, Chartwells. Lastly it was suggested cutting days for middle and elementary counselors, cutting the agriculture and FFA program from 35 extra teaching days to 15, reducing the hours for all classified staff by two hours per week, and cutting the five professional development days. There were several other possible cuts listed, however, these potential cuts would get the district to the $2.5 million target. These suggestions will be formulated into the agenda for the April 4^th meeting which is available online now. From that meeting a formal budget proposal will be made and sent to the full board for a vote at the April 9^th board meeting next week. We will continue to provide updated information on the budgeting issue as it becomes available, including an in-depth look at the DSA mistake. Stay tuned for more information.   Support local, independent news – contribute to The Fallon Post, your non-profit (501c3) online news source for all things Fallon. Never miss the local news -- read more on The Fallon Post home page.