BRODHEAD - If residents don't pass a referendum to allow the Brodhead school district to exceed the revenue limits, severe cuts will have to be made, Brodhead Superintendent Charles Deery and school board officials warned residents at a public meeting Tuesday.
About 15 residents and several students from the high school and middle school student councils were told there could be cuts in staff and programs, including sports.
"This isn't a scare tactic," board member Mike Krupke said. "This is what's going to happen."
Some residents asked if the school district had tried to make cuts before it decided to go to referendum. Deery said the school board has cut $200,000 out of the budget each of the past six years. Some of the cuts included teaching positions and programs such as Future Homemakers of America and Future Business Leaders of America, a reduction in field trips and delays in textbook purchases.
A list of programs and staff cuts were available for people who attended the meeting.
"We've reached a turning point," Deery said. "The board feels the community should decide what we do next."
Brodhead is asking residents to increase the revenue limits by $635,000 in the 2010-11 school year; $810,000 in the 2011-12 school year; $855,000 in the 2012-12 school year; and $1,285,000 in the 2013-14 school year.
The tax rate for the school district this year was $8.45 per $1,000 of equalized property value. Projected tax rates during the next four years are $8.85 in 2010-11; $9.89 for 2011-12; $10.09 for 2012-13; and $10.73 for 2013-14.
Brodhead's financial troubles are similar to the problems faced by other districts, Deery said. Expenses have outpaced revenue and enrollment has declined, he said.
Revenue growth is limited to about 2.5 percent, while expenses have increased about 4 percent per year, Deery said.
Deery explained Brodhead teachers agreed to a change in their insurance carrier two years ago to save the district about $85,000 a year, in response to on audience member's question about insurance costs.
Enrollment has continued to decline over the past three year. In May, Brodhead will graduate between 100 and 115 students. About 70 to 80 new students will enter school next year.
"Enrollment has dropped about 60 kids over the past five years, and it will decrease about 100 kids over the next five years," Deery said.
The district receives about $10,000 per student. Deery said the decrease in students is figured by multiplying the amount the state pays by the number of students lost in enrollment.
Deery said a reduction in students across the entire school meant the board had to make cuts and he said the cuts will only get deeper.
"We still have to heat the same buildings and cover the same territory for busing," he said.
In addition to the expenses and declining enrollment, Deery said a new roof is needed for the high school. The school was built in 1995 and the 15-year life of the roof is over. He said there are cracks and leaks in the roof and it needs to be repaired.
"We have three choices. We can cut programs to balance the budget, spend money until it runs out, or pass a referendum," he said.
Cuts in staff would increase the number of students in classrooms. Brodhead has a student to teacher ratio of about 20 to 1. Cutting teachers would mean the ratios could increase to at least 25 to 1, or higher, in some grades. Deery said smaller class sizes are better for students.
The cuts in extra-curricular programs, especially sports, would have repercussions on the community and the school district, Deery said.
"How many families will open enroll out of our district," Deery asked. Districts that eliminate sports have high numbers of students who leave to attend other schools, he added.
If a student leaves the district through open enrollment, Brodhead has to pay the district that receives the student about $6,800 of the $10,000 received from the state, Deery said.
Deery said he understands residents' concerns about a referendum at this time.
"We know the economy is hurting," he said. "We've tried to hold off as long as we can."
About 15 residents and several students from the high school and middle school student councils were told there could be cuts in staff and programs, including sports.
"This isn't a scare tactic," board member Mike Krupke said. "This is what's going to happen."
Some residents asked if the school district had tried to make cuts before it decided to go to referendum. Deery said the school board has cut $200,000 out of the budget each of the past six years. Some of the cuts included teaching positions and programs such as Future Homemakers of America and Future Business Leaders of America, a reduction in field trips and delays in textbook purchases.
A list of programs and staff cuts were available for people who attended the meeting.
"We've reached a turning point," Deery said. "The board feels the community should decide what we do next."
Brodhead is asking residents to increase the revenue limits by $635,000 in the 2010-11 school year; $810,000 in the 2011-12 school year; $855,000 in the 2012-12 school year; and $1,285,000 in the 2013-14 school year.
The tax rate for the school district this year was $8.45 per $1,000 of equalized property value. Projected tax rates during the next four years are $8.85 in 2010-11; $9.89 for 2011-12; $10.09 for 2012-13; and $10.73 for 2013-14.
Brodhead's financial troubles are similar to the problems faced by other districts, Deery said. Expenses have outpaced revenue and enrollment has declined, he said.
Revenue growth is limited to about 2.5 percent, while expenses have increased about 4 percent per year, Deery said.
Deery explained Brodhead teachers agreed to a change in their insurance carrier two years ago to save the district about $85,000 a year, in response to on audience member's question about insurance costs.
Enrollment has continued to decline over the past three year. In May, Brodhead will graduate between 100 and 115 students. About 70 to 80 new students will enter school next year.
"Enrollment has dropped about 60 kids over the past five years, and it will decrease about 100 kids over the next five years," Deery said.
The district receives about $10,000 per student. Deery said the decrease in students is figured by multiplying the amount the state pays by the number of students lost in enrollment.
Deery said a reduction in students across the entire school meant the board had to make cuts and he said the cuts will only get deeper.
"We still have to heat the same buildings and cover the same territory for busing," he said.
In addition to the expenses and declining enrollment, Deery said a new roof is needed for the high school. The school was built in 1995 and the 15-year life of the roof is over. He said there are cracks and leaks in the roof and it needs to be repaired.
"We have three choices. We can cut programs to balance the budget, spend money until it runs out, or pass a referendum," he said.
Cuts in staff would increase the number of students in classrooms. Brodhead has a student to teacher ratio of about 20 to 1. Cutting teachers would mean the ratios could increase to at least 25 to 1, or higher, in some grades. Deery said smaller class sizes are better for students.
The cuts in extra-curricular programs, especially sports, would have repercussions on the community and the school district, Deery said.
"How many families will open enroll out of our district," Deery asked. Districts that eliminate sports have high numbers of students who leave to attend other schools, he added.
If a student leaves the district through open enrollment, Brodhead has to pay the district that receives the student about $6,800 of the $10,000 received from the state, Deery said.
Deery said he understands residents' concerns about a referendum at this time.
"We know the economy is hurting," he said. "We've tried to hold off as long as we can."