Budget Deal Softens Blow to Saline Area Schools

A budget deal reached by Gov. Rick Snyder and the Republican-led House and Senate should soften the financial blow to Saline Area Schools.

The district was looking at a $6 million hole in its budget for 2011-12 because of reductions in state aid and increases in other costs, including pension and benefits.. Thursday's budget agreement should reduce that hole by approximately $1 million, according to Saline Area Schools Superintendent Scot Graden.

"The picture is improving. That's the bottom line. There appears to be a restoration of a portion of the reduction announced earlier. That''s a good thing for us," said Graden.

Thursday afternoon, Snyder, Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville and House Speaker Jase Boldger announced a deal to eliminate Michigan's deficit, once projected at $1.4 billion. The legislators were aided by $429 million in unexpected tax revenues. In all, there are $310 million being put back into K-12 schools. Of that total $150 million will be distributed on a per-pupil basis to districts who meet "best practice" measures. Another $160 million of one-time funding will distributed to schools to help defray increasing retirement costs. According to a release from the governor's office, the moves effectively reduce the per-pupil cut to school districts to less than $100, from an orignal project of $300. Districts are also losing $170-per-pupil in federal money that will not be available in 2011-12.

State Rep. Mark Ouimet, (R-Scio Twp.), issued a statement following Thursday's budget announcement.

"This is a structurally sound budget agreement based on genuine financial principles, not gimmicks or phantom funding.  It's a real budget plan that strengthens the hand of our schools by encouraging long-term cost-saving practices," he said. "We listened to the people of Michigan who believed the initially proposed school funding cuts were too steep, and fought hard to get the new revenue placed into the K-12 budget. Schools could now only see a state funding reduction of less than $100 per pupil, which amounts to a 1.9 percent decrease. This is truly a landmark budget agreement when you consider the state was dealing with a $1.5 billion deficit situation."

Still, there isn't much joy in Saline school Friday. The district is expected to send out 68 layoff notices at the end of the day.

"Unfortunately the mood is what you would expect...a little on edge," said Saline High School video and photography teacher Nathan Bush. 

But, it's not exactly foreign territory to teachers, either.

"For many, they are getting used to this every year," Bush said.

High school math teacher Jennifer Dodge said the budget issues make long days seem longer.

"I think all of the staff are mentally exhausted at this time of year and more so because of all the things going on in Lansing," Dodge said. "This is just one more thing to add to our overly full plate."

Graden said it was an emotional day in district.

"The notices are going out today and it affects staff in every building. It's emotional right now," Graden said. "Today's the day a lot of things we've been talking about come home to roost."

Although 68 low-seniority members of staff will receive the notices, far fewer will actually lose their positions. When the district was looking at a $6 million budget hole, the plan was to eliminate the equivalent of 20.5 full-time teachers. Reducing the shortfall means less teachers will be laid off. Graden said the district would spend the next two weeks working through the staffing process to determine which teachers will be brought back.

That budget shortfall has been been reduced by other factors, including non-union health benefit costs that came in less than expected.

The district has also been in negotiations with the Saline Education Association for concessions. The collective bargaining agreement with Saline's teacher's union expires in 2012. 

The SEA votes Monday on a tentative agreement with the district.

The Saline Area Schools board of education meets Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

A school forum is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Liberty School.