Budget woes affect almost the entire Lake Conference Posted 7/20/01 by Brett Andersen Staff Writer District 196 (Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan) again ranks number one in the Lake and Classic Lake conferences ó this time in budget cuts. District 196 recently cut more than $5 million from its 2001-02 preliminary budget and trimmed about the same number in 2000-01. To be fair, the Burnsville School District could tie District 196 since it would have to cut expenses by about $5 million to balance its budget. Instead, they decided to operate in deficit, using funding reserves to maintain programs during the coming school year. The Hopkins School District cut about $4.2 million for the coming school year ìacross the board,î according to district officer David Shaplay. Hopkins chopped about $2.8 million last year. According to Wayzata district staff, they removed about $3.7 million from the budget this year and about $1 million last year. Staff said administration and transportation expenses were hit harder than classroom cuts, which have totaled 38.5 teaching positions. Wayzata also eliminated the elementary band and orchestra programs. Chaska cut 50 items for a total of $3.1 million, including raising class size by one in every grade level. Cuts have been an ongoing process in the last few years, said Steve Pumper, finance director. Robbinsdale is next by removing $3 million from its budget. Cuts include athletics and activities, teachers (13), instructional assistants (12 ó similar to assistant principals) and 10 custodians. According to the Robbinsdale Web site (rdale.k12.mn.us), the custodial staff was understaffed prior to the cuts so ìbuildings will be less well-maintained than they are currently.î Minnetonka removed $2.6 million from its budget for the 2001-02 school year. According to district staff, the cuts included transportation, cocurriculars and 15 teaching positions ó which is their first priority to restore. St. Louis Park has made minor adjustments in the last few years, but saw its most significant cuts when $2.3 million was removed from the 2001-02 budget, according to district staff. Bloomington and Edina have avoided cuts for the current year by dipping into fund balances by $3.8 million and $1 million respectively. Bloomington Director of Finance Tom Stringer said the district took the attitude it wouldnít cut education to keep money in reserve. ìWeíre not a bank,î he said. Jay Williamson of Edina said the deficit spending was a way of buying time to analyze their options. ìWe will have major committees looking at this this fall,î said Williamson. Lakeville was the only conference school district to enhance its programs. On the strength of a new $5 million excess levy referendum, Lakeville restored about $2.3 million in past cuts. By way of comparison, District 196 ranks last in spending per student in the conferences, while St. Louis Park ranks first. District 196 spends $6,006 per student, St. Louis Park spends $9,118 and the 12 schools average $7,227. Eden Prairie officials did not respond to phone calls before this issue went to press. ©Thisweek Newspapers