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Budgeting Statement
The purpose of this communication is to share the facts regarding the School Board’s May 8, 2018 decisions to discontinue positions districtwide and modify some programming in Columbia Heights Public Schools. In sharing these facts, the District’s hope is that the public will have a greater understanding of the process involved in making these decisions.
The District understands these are very difficult decisions that affect everyone involved. Building level staffing is based on the number of students enrolled and served in each school. While programs were adjusted, students will continue to have access to Arts, Music, Band and Physical Education curriculum. There are unfounded rumors that the District is eliminating Physical Education, Music and Special Education. The District has not eliminated any of these programs, but may change the delivery system of the elementary curriculum in Music.
Questions have been raised regarding reductions at the elementary level. Overall, the District discontinued 11.0763 full-time equivalent net licensed and non-licensed elementary positions. In addition, 5.0 full-time equivalent net licensed and non-licensed District positions were discontinued.
Additionally, questions have been raised about the District’s elementary demographics. Columbia Heights Public Schools serves a diverse population of students in all of our buildings. The current range for Free and Reduced Priced Lunch, which is an indicator of poverty, for all Columbia Heights Public Schools, is 77.6 to 80.1 percent. As of October 1, 2017 the number of students of color served in our schools range from 77.8 to 83.2 percent. The schools across the District are balanced in these areas. Among the three elementary schools, Highland Elementary School has the highest enrollment and currently has the highest Free and Reduced Priced Lunch Count.
Columbia Heights Public Schools has, on an annual basis, been forced to make adjustments to its budget. Each year the District reviews its enrollment in order to determine the budget, staffing and programming for the upcoming year. Columbia Heights Public Schools is not unique; school districts throughout Minnesota have done and are doing the same.
This year the Columbia Heights Public School District (and school districts throughout the state) is facing financial challenges because of state aid not keeping pace with the rising cost of ensuring an excellent education, declining enrollment in some of the elementary schools and for the increasing cost of what is called the Special Education Cross-Subsidy. The Special Education Cross-Subsidy is in effect the amount of money from the District’s General Fund that is used to pay the unreimbursed and mandated cost of providing Special Education services. The Columbia Heights Public Schools’ Special Education Cross-Subsidy is currently at $5.7 million or equivalent to approximately 70 full-time positions.
The District budgeting process begins when the annual audit is completed and a financial forecast is established for the upcoming fiscal year. The School Board discusses this information in January, establishes budget assumptions and begins consideration of a resolution on the “discontinuance of programs and positions to effectuate economies in the School District and reduce expenditures” based on budget assumptions. In February, the School Board votes on a resolution directing the Superintendent and Administration to begin the process of studying the discontinuance of programs and positions.
District Administrators and Principals then meet on a regular basis to best determine available funding relating to enrollment in schools, programming needs and District budget assumptions. The School Board is apprised of and discusses recommendations based on budget assumptions and Fund Balance Policy (714) at an April Work Session. In May, the School Board discusses and votes on the approval of “discontinuance of programs and positions to effectuate economies" in the School District and reduce expenditures. Administration then informs licensed staff of changes to their position before the information is made public. By June 1 licensed staff receive their assignments for the upcoming school year.
This budget shortfall issue is not unique to Columbia Heights Public Schools. This is underscored by Governor Dayton’s one-time Emergency School Aid proposal currently before the Legislature. We are hopeful that Columbia Heights Public School District community stakeholders will reach out to State and Federal elected officials to support the Governor’s Emergency School Aid proposal and a long-term financial solution to the Special Education Cross-Subsidy.