Thornapple Kellogg Schools

Thornapple Kellogg Schools trying to get creative with budget cuts; no layoffs ...

MIDDLEVILLE — Staff attrition, spending into existing fund balance and contract negotiations with employee groups are all key components to Thornapple Kellogg Schools’ financial picture for 2011-2012.

While district officials are still waiting for final budget information from the state, they say they have to begin “agile” planning.

A community forum Wednesday night invited the public to offer input for cost-saving measures. “We will take any and all ideas into consideration,” said Superintendent Gary Rider.

He said administrators met with groups of staff and employees to create a preliminary action plan, but until the state number is final, nothing is final by the school board.

Rider said the district expects to save between $ 300,000 and $ 500,000 jobs through attrition and other cost reduction measures that will not affect employment levels or student programs. The district is not planning layoffs at this time.

Rider said the plan also is to use all of the $668,000 in EduJobs funds awarded by the federal government, noting that is a one-time financial allotment and not a continuing revenue source.

The school board also agreed to allow possible spending of the existing fund balance below a 10 percent level for the 2011-2012 year. The district may need to spend about $1.2 million from its existing fund balance that now sits at roughly 14 percent of one year’s operational needs. The district operates on about a $25.6 million budget.

Rider said although the plan for next year keeps cuts away from students and programs, if financial reforms aren’t implemented, the 2012-2013 year projections are even bleaker financially and drastic changes will be needed.

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