Advocates for special education programs were among those who appealed to the Mead school board Wednesday night, urging members not to cut their children’s programs.
It was the second of two public hearings held this week to collect comment on a proposed round of budget cuts.
Mead school officials are tasked with finding ways to cut a proposed $12 million deficit for next year’s budget. That shortfall is partly caused by new state rules that cap how much money districts can collect from local taxpayers.
Earlier this month, administrators suggested $15 million worth of possible cuts. Wednesday night at Northwood Middle School, supporters of programs on the chopping block, including this woman named Gina, came to argue their cases and to empathize with school board members.
“I’m saddened that the decisions that our legislators have made has led us to a fight to save our programs, pitting one program against another. I do not envy the position you are all in,” she said.
Several of the speakers urged the board to reconsider proposed reductions to programs for the most vulnerable students. Cheyanne’ Standish is a resource room teacher at the district’s Midway Elementary School.
“Our current proposed budget cuts will significantly impact students with special needs. This includes cuts that specifically affect students in special education programs, students with 504 plans, those with mental and physical health issues and students with limited English," Standish said.
Kim Perdue, who works in the English Language Learner program at Mountainside Middle School, said the district is home to a growing number of students from other countries who need tutoring. She said warned against cutting the faculty in those programs.
“The complete elimination of these positions would be catastrophic to our students," Perdue argued. "With reduced staffing, our students will remain in program longer. We will not be able to maintain our graduation rates and our students will lack the relationships that they need. Attendance will drop. Truancy and dropouts will increase.”
Some asked if the district if had other avenues to raise the money they used to be able to collect through local levies, but now can’t. Others, including Cara Elston, urged the board to look at other places to cut, such as the administrative office. Many of the schools, she said, have multiple assistant principals.
“I don’t doubt that these people do important work, but to eliminate one or two administrator positions from each district department could save from $1-1.5 one million," Elston said. "And that would be enough to save two innovative and successful schools, MEAD and Riverpoint.”
That’s the Mead Alternative School and the Riverpoint Academy, two of the other programs proposed for cuts or elimination. Advocates were both were numerous and vocal at both of the board’s public meetings this week.
The legislature has yet to finalize a budget that will tell Mead how much it can expect from the state next year. That puts the board in a tough place because administrators say they must notify employees who could be laid off by the middle of May. The board doesn’t have to adopt the new budget until August.
