Carlton Schools: Budget cut discussion continues

The Carlton school board continued to explore its budget options Monday at its monthly regular meeting. It heard details from the online resource it currently uses to offer students a wider range of electives options. One of the goals of the board, in order to shave from its expected half-million-dollar deficit next year, is to increase online electives and eliminate teachers.

The board formally approved allowing district office staff to seek cuts and offer recommendations to the board for consideration. Board chairwoman Julianne Emerson said the measure is more of a legal hurdle and the school board would still make all final decisions regarding cuts.

Increasing use of the Imagine Learning platform online is one of the ways district staff has found to cut nearly $160,000 in salaries. Two teaching positions would be eliminated by going online and two other positions would be reduced by 40 percent and 20 percent. That would go a long way in reaching the $250,000 the board has agreed to pare from the deficit in the next year. It would need to excise $250,000 more next year.

Other savings may come from simple math regarding students enrolled in the district. The “examples of cuts to explore” presented to the board Monday includes the reduction of one section, or class, at the elementary, meaning another teacher dropped and a savings of about $45,000.

The reduction of a nursing position to pre-pandemic levels, from full-time to 87-percent, would save $9,000. Eliminating a paraprofessional and secretary position is listed as saving about $75,000. The list also includes cutting the staff option to pick up extra assignments, a savings of $26,500.

The district is also exploring teaming up more sports with Wrenshall under the Raptors nickname. The two districts are paired in cross country, football, track and softball. The other sports that could be considered would be volleyball, basketball and baseball.

There are myriad considerations to be made regarding exactly what is saved by combining for sports. There has to be equity in offerings regarding gender, there are the ups and downs of participation, and cuts in admission proceeds. On the list presented Monday, more joint efforts with Wrenshall could result in saving $10,000. The board also discussed increasing activities fees.

The board did decide on Monday to save on the cost of keeping superintendent John Engstrom for another year. It approved a contract extension with a cut in benefits, roughly $13,000, as was listed as part of the “example” budget cuts.