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The Hazelwood School District Announces

Budget Reduction Plan for 2016-17

Hazelwood School District administrators recently announced its plan to reduce the budget over the next several years. The announcements were made during several meetings to its 2,400 staff members. The current year budget shortfall of nearly $15 million dollars is primarily due to declining property values, a district press release stated. When comparing 2014-15 revenue raised from property taxes there was $15.7 million less than what was collected in 2008-09, which is one reason for the shortfall.

In addition, the District tries to maintain competitive salaries and benefits to retain and attract the best teachers, administrators and employees. Therefore, teacher and staff raises over the last several years have also contributed to the shortfall.

It is projected that the school district will begin 2016-17 school year with a $12.7 million operating deficit and the only ways to immediately reduce this deficit is through a combination of reducing expenditures and raising revenue.

District administrators have eliminated positions through attrition for the last eight years, because of the projected revenue shortfalls. To protect the instructional programs, the district has been using reserves to cover operation deficits for the last three years. At the end of year, the unreserved fund balance will be down to the minimum amount per district policy.

The press release from the school district listed some of the approved reductions include:

• Reduce the central office budget by more than $900,000

• Eliminate central office positions

• Eliminate professional development and tuition reimbursement for administrators

• Eliminate four band/orchestra positions from elementary level, before school and during the day

The school district will provide afterschool music instruction when possible

•  Eliminate 13 physical education positions (elementary and high school levels)

• Eliminate field trips

• Restructuring the alternative education program

•  Reduce high school athletic/activity fund by 10%

• Reduce high school extra duty contracts and benefits by 10%

• Reduce per student allocations – high school and middle school

• Eliminate warehouse position (one by attrition)

•  Eliminate 25% of custodial positions

• Institute a community building usage fee in 2016-17

These savings total approximately $6.6 million, according to district officials. The district will continue to review its operations for efficiencies and future expenditure reductions in order to balance the operating budget. Every effort will be made to find positions for teachers who are impacted; this will take place through retirements, resignations, and teacher certifications.

The school board meets Tuesday, Feb. 16

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