Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer
Special meeting:
The board held a special meeting to discuss the budget reductions proposed by the Budget Advisory Committee and also reductions suggested by the board itself.
Board members worked through a list of proposed reductions and indicated their interest in keeping an item on the reduction list or removing it from the list. Some of the items that the board discussed removing from the reduction list included the diversity coordinator, an elementary social worker position, 5 elementary classroom teachers, the autism coordinator, eliminating 5th grade instrumental music, and eliminating 8th grade sports.
Some of the items the board decided to keep on the reduction list included eliminating the emotionally disturbed program at one middle school (the programs at the two middle schools would be combined), a 1% salary decrease across the board, and eliminating or reducing by half a middle school assistant principal.
The board also had a preliminary discussion about approaching the City Commission with a proposal to levy a sales tax that would benefit the school district. Board members discussed the possibility of having a ten-year sales tax that would support the district's general fund, technology, and possibly pay off the construction bond debt early. The school board does not have the authority to levy a sales tax and would need the City Commission's support to place a sales tax proposal on a ballot that would then have to be approved by voters. Board members were in agreement that the sales tax idea was worth pursuing.
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