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NB school board hears suggestions on budget crunch |
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By Patrick Tepoorten
In response to shrinking enrollment and another round of budget cuts for the upcoming school year, should the district increase volunteerism? Go to a four day school week? Reduce administrative positions?
Prior to last Thursday’s North Branch Area School District School Board meeting, board members split into small groups to hear thoughts from the public on pending budget adjustments for the 2008 - 2009 school year. About 15 - 20 people showed up to voice suggestions, and most were employees of the district.
Notes from the listening session can be found at the district Web site and the suggestions noted earlier all came from the sessions.
Some other ideas included limiting the food choices for students, combining the Primary and Sunrise schools, limiting transportation to extra-curricular events to one bus, and to recruit more open enrollment students. There were others as well.
For Financial Director Randi Johnson, the results of the listening session were overwhelmingly positive. “I think it was a real good session,” she said, adding, “Having that many people come was a good thing. We heard real positive comments.”
For those who were unable to attend the listening session but would like to provide input on the issue, the district will be accepting comments until April 21. Suggestions can be e-mailed to
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
; leave a voice-mail at (651) 674-1025, or send comments to:
Budget Input, NBAPS
6644 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
As well, there will be a public meeting on the issue of budget cuts at Sunrise River School on April 17, at 6 p.m. Child care is available by calling (651) 674-1025.
At the board meeting following the listening session:
• A contract with the district’s custodial union, Local 284, was ratified. The contract represents a 9.6 percent increase over two years.
• The April 25 school board work session was changed to a special meeting for purposes of considering cuts to the 2008 - 2009 budget. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m.
• The school calendar for next year was approved. It can be viewed at the district Web site (www.northbranch.k12.mn.us). Click on “calendars.”
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