Schools told to expect more cuts

School districts are to think long term with their budget cuts and compile reduction data to present to the Legislature, the State Board of Education says.

The board voted unanimously Friday to approve a letter to be sent to all school district superintendents and charter school directors encouraging them to look long into the future.

"We want to put everyone on notice that, yes, these were tough cuts, but more are coming," said board member Dave Thomas, who is on the board's finance committee. "They need to look at the long-term reality that this is just the beginning and we're still going toward that cliff."

A former lawmaker, Thomas was chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Education and served on the Legislature's Interim Education Committee.

Further, districts will need to compile a report outlining their budget decisions for both fiscal years 2009 and 2010. Due by Sept. 1, the information will be used to keep the Legislature well-informed of public education's financial plight.

The data will be presented to the education interim committee and appropriations committee "so legislators can see what districts have done," Thomas said.

The reports could include class-size changes, number of students not served due to particular money shortages, student-to-teacher ratios, program cuts or eliminations, employee reductions, compensation changes and instructional day changes, Thomas said.

"The reality is — the 2011 budget — there is no stimulus budget for that. And the base budget coming in 2011 is going to be a 16 percent reduction of the 2010 budget," he said.

The letter to superintendents acknowledges districts' tough task in culling their budgets.

"You, your staff and your boards have made many hard decisions in an effort to maintain the integrity and efficacy of public education in Utah. The board recognizes the painstaking efforts to balance budgets while sustaining education programs that will have long-term benefits for our children."

School districts are in the middle of budget discussions. The 2009-2010 budget must be approved by June 30.

Some districts are facing serious dilemmas. Granite School Board is considering closing Granite High School to save $1.3 million. The board's vote is scheduled for Tuesday.

The ongoing state support for public education has been reduced by 16 percent representing a loss of $412 million, according to state education budget officials.

A total of $198 million has come to public education in federal stimulus funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Even with the infusion of one-time funds, the public education budget will be reduced in fiscal year 2010 by 5.2 percent.

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