by John Gessner
Thisweek Newspapers

Forty-four classroom teaching positions, two special education positions and four custodial positions are eliminated in a plan to balance the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District's budget.

Numerous other cuts -- including elimination of junior high B-squad sports and reassignment of gifted and talented specialist positions at the elementary schools -- are included in the $4.41 million plan presented to the School Board Feb. 1.

The board is expected to choose $4 million in cuts to balance the 2007-08 budget. Under board policy, administrators recommended cuts totaling 110 percent of the board's budget-cutting target, which it approved in January.

A public hearing on the plan will be held Thursday, Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Burnsville High School Senior Campus. The board is scheduled to vote on cuts Feb. 15.

Last November, voters defeated a levy proposal that would have boosted annual district revenue by $6 million. Administrators forecast a $5 million deficit in 2007-08, but a favorable audit report showed last year's budget was underspent by $1 million, leaving a $4 million gap, said Superintendent Ben Kanninen.

By increasing student-to-staff ratios, the plan cuts 24 teaching positions in the 10 elementary schools, 12 in the three junior highs and eight in senior high.

Elementary class sizes in the lower grades would remain "quite good," but some elementary classes could grow to 32 to 35 students, said Sue Grissom, executive director of human resources.

Secondary class sizes would also grow. Senior high classes in core subjects could have 30 to 32 students, and electives could have 36 to 42, Grissom said.

Cuts total $1.47 million at the elementary level and $1.57 million at the secondary level. Cuts in districtwide services total $1.37 million.

More than half of the total savings -- $2.36 million -- comes from cutting teachers through higher ratios.

Cuts also include reassignment of half-time gifted and talent specialist positions at the elementary schools, for a savings of $185,500. Classroom teachers would take over coordination of gifted and talented programs.

Elimination of junior high B-squad teams in grades seven and eight would save $50,200. Cuts in the block grant supporting Burnsville High School sports, and turning the cost of ninth-grade baseball over to the high school, would save $20,000.

Eliminating four custodial positions would save $158,000. Cutting two special education positions would save $110,000.

Other cuts include elimination of one of three special-assignment teaching positions, which are dedicated to districtwide functions such as curriculum development; elimination of 1.4 positions used to preserve low-enrollment courses, such as some world language classes, in secondary schools; and elimination of 1.4 positions for the Burnsville Area Learning Center.

A big chunk of savings comes from spending $500,000 in a health-insurance fund on next year's premium. Savings from the district's high-deductible, partial self-insurance plan are accumulating in the fund and were intended to help offset future premium increases.
Not in the plan

Some budget-cutting ideas have sparked discussion in the district but aren't in the plan.

There's no plan to close a school, said Business Manager Mark Stotts. Enrollment continues to fall, but more slowly than projected, he said. The numbers might support a school closing in a few years, but not next year, he said.

The more likely future action would be removing portable classrooms as recommended by a district facilities task force, Stotts said. The aging classrooms were deemed "temporary" when erected.

There's no plan to cut transportation services. The district's walking distances are still lower than distances allowed by state law, said Kanninen. But increasing them would put many students at hazardous crossings, requiring a revamping of bus routes that would eat the savings, he said.

There's no plan to close the high school's Senior Campus. It's an extension of the school, and closing it wouldn't be practical, Stotts said.
Comments?

The entire recommendation is on the district's Web site, www.isd191.org.

Comments can be e-mailed to info@burnsville.k12.mn.us, phoned to the board comment line (952-707-2006) or sent, care of Ben Kanninen, to 100 River Ridge Court, Burnsville, 55337.

This is the seventh time in the last 10 years the district has cut its general-fund budget -- "far too often," Kanninen said. Cuts have totaled $18.5 million, he said.
Community
Education

Administrators also unveiled a plan to reorganize the district's Community Education department and eliminate recurring deficits.

The plan includes $201,000 in program fee hikes, elimination of one of two co-director positions, elimination of 2.4 School Age Project Kids positions, and closing the Ready-to-Learn program at Edward Neill Elementary (eliminating 1.5 positions).

Savings total $526,200.

John Gessner is at burnsville.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.