Jan. 28, 2009

District 6 Staff and Community,

On Tuesday afternoon, Governor Bill Ritter announced his proposal for balancing the state’s budget for the 2009 fiscal year. The state is projecting a $1 billion deficit over the next 18 months, and the Governor’s proposal makes some significant cuts in order to balance the budget.

Two prisons would be closed. State workers' pay would be frozen, and they would have to take an unpaid furlough. Colleges and universities would get less funding. And K-12 education statewide would be cut by $125 million. Each district would shoulder a share of that total. Under the Governor's proposal, $1.6 million would be cut in our 2009-10 revenues. These hard decisions are being made because of the extremely challenging economic conditions affecting our state and nation.

The State Legislature will now review the proposal and have an opportunity to make changes before approving it in early May. While they may make some adjustments, the fact remains that serious cuts will be made to the state’s budget and those cuts will have a direct effect on our school system here in Greeley and Evans.

In addition to proposed cuts to the 2009-2010 school year budget, there is a strong likelihood that the State will make a budget rescission for the current school year. This will reduce State funding coming into our district (and all other districts) for the current school year. That means that our school district will have to reduce costs this year, immediately. (A "rescission" is defined as "the unwinding of a transaction." In practical terms, it means that money we were counting on from the state based on our pupil count is reduced by some amount.)

However, thanks to sound financial planning and decision-making by the Board of Education over the previous few years, we believe we can minimize the impact of a recession by using our fund reserves (another word for "savings account"). The Board has kept our fund reserves at a modestly healthy level for exactly this type of emergency. But once we spend that money it’s gone -- it will not be there again to help us with the 2009-10 reductions being proposed.

Even if the State is somehow able to "flat-fund" K-12 education -- giving school districts the same amount in 2009-10 that it has given this year -- school districts across the state will still have to make budget cuts in order to pay for any cost increases.

To help prepare for whatever budget reductions come our way, I have asked principal workgroups and department directors to analyze the 2009-10 budgets and prepare four hypothetical scenarios: a restructuring and reprioritizing of current expenditures; and reductions of 5 percent, 10 percent and 15 percent. These are strictly hypothetical scenarios at this point. Should we have to enact any reductions we will certainly engage employees and the community in that discussion.

There are a couple "potentials" that could help alleviate some of this financial hardship, but neither is a sure thing and therefore can’t be counted on when we develop our 2009-10 budget, which will be done over the next few months.

The first is the President’s proposed federal economic stimulus that is being debated in the U.S. Congress. Should that legislation be approved, we could receive some additional funding for Title I programs, special education (IDEA), and school renovation projects. The use of this funding would be restricted, and only last for two years.

The second is the potential for raising additional local tax dollars to support our schools (a mill levy override). Right now a group of concerned citizens is reviewing our academic and financial needs with the goal of making a recommendation to the Board of Education in August. You can track the progress of this group, called the Citizens' Blue Ribbon Panel, on the District 6 website, www.greeleyschools.org.

Whatever happens, we will still have what we need to teach all children. We have our skills, our talents, and our dedication. We have each other. We have our parents and our community. And we have incredible students who are seeking bright futures. Even through these hard times, I’m depending on you to be solid and steadfast. We have to be there for our students. We have to be leaders, more than ever. School will continue. We may have to make some sacrifices, but we have to commit to not passing along any of our personal fears or anxieties to the children and families we serve.

Although much is still uncertain, I promise to work with you, together, as we learn more and begin to make financial plans for the next school year.

Sincerely,


Ranelle Lang, Ed.D.