A Message from the Superintendent

DISTRICT BUDGET UPDATE
FEBRUARY 2010

Deep District Budget Cuts Ahead

As most of you know, Michigan's public schools were forced to absorb a huge state revenue reduction this past fall.  Here in Mona Shores a $165 per pupil mid-year funding cut led to a whopping $650,000 loss in district revenue.  More importantly, without immediate legislative action in Lansing to fix this structural funding problem, state revenue cuts are sure to continue next year.  In fact, current projections are calling for a much larger $255 per pupil cut next year.  If enacted, this reduction will lead to deep district program and service cuts unlike anything parents, students, and staff members have seen since the early 1990's.

It's important to note our district is currently covering this year's large ($1.5 million) budget deficit with rainy-day reserve funds. If enacted, the Governor's projected $255 per pupil cut will lead to an even larger ($4.6 million) budget deficit next year.  Next year's massive projected budget deficit will force the Board of Education to (1) spend a large amount of the district's remaining rainy-day  reserve funds and (2) make deep instructional program and service cuts in order to balance the District's upcoming 2010/11 Budget. School board members have repeatedly called on area legislators State Senator Gerald VanWoerkom, Jr. and State Representative Mary Valentine to provide strong bi-partisan leadership to correct this structural school-funding problem.  However, without genuine collaborative leadership from all Lansing Democrats and Republicans this spring, deep program and service cuts for students are certain in Mona Shores Schools next year.

Mona Shores' school board members have always done their part to prudently manage the district's finances.  In fact, eight straight years of targeted district budget cuts, implementation of newly enacted contract settlements, and passage of three capital improvement levies in the last five years have led to over $6 million in General Fund cost savings.  However, the huge state funding cuts being projected for Michigan's public schools next year are simply too much for local school boards to overcome. As a result, school board members all across the state are being left with no choice but to cut the most basic of instructional programs and services to help balance their local school district budgets.  More importantly, its very clear this situation will not improve until parents, staff, and school district supporters step up and demand corrective action in Lansing.  Until then, local school district leaders will be forced to continue cutting essential programs and services that their students desperately need and deserve.  Therefore, please join our school board members in calling on both Senator VanWoerkom and Representative Valentine to aggressively support the proper funding of Michigan's public schools!  Our students need us to speak up on their behalf!

Terry L. Babbitt

Superintendent of Schools

(231) 780-4751, extension 8205