(Spirit Lake)– With a standing room-only crowd in attendance, the Spirit Lake school board Monday voted unanimously to adopt a list of budget reductions recommended by the administration. 248-thousand dollars was trimmed from the budget, and the affects are wide-ranging. One program will be eliminated–Middle School Spanish. Others will see reductions. Several positions that currently or soon will have vacancies won’t be filled. Extended contracts and field trips will be reduced, along with several high school elective programs. There will also be a reduction in Teacher Aide hours. Textbook and ICN fees will be going up, along with the amount of rent the district charges the Before and After School Program.
Prior to adopting the reductions, the board heard from several concerned staff members. Denny Perry was one of them. He’s concerned over the impact the reductions may have on staff morale. Tina Sheryl Range says morale among staff at the High School is as slow as she’s seen it during the nine years she’s been in the district.
After hearing additional comments the board unanimously approved the list of reductions as proposed.
Following a public hearing that drew no comments, the Spirit Lake school board also Monday adopted the 2005-’06 budget. It has a tax levy of $11.68 per thousand dollars of valuation–the first time in many years the district’s tax asking has been that high.
