Downward spiral of the Duluth Schools

And we haven’t yet hit bottom.

Now that they decided to give us the Red Plan without your input they would like your help making the next round of cuts. Among the options:

The board has to make about $4.8 million in cuts to its budget, which will get final approval in June. Items being considered include:

Increase employee health insurance contribution to gain about
$1.2 million.

Raise eligibility level for health insurance to gain about $1.5 million.
Freeze all salaries.

Eliminate all-day kindergarten for about $630,000.

Increase the student-to-teacher staffing ratio for $1.1 million.

Reduce the number of elementary specialists for $1.6 million.

Restructure the middle school day from seven periods to six to save about $1 million.

Four-day school week beginning fall 2013 to save $700,000.

Reduce special education expenses.

Restructure high school day.

Reduce administrative, non-classroom support and business services staff.

Change transportation guidelines for middle and elementary school to save $420,000.

Don’t worry. If your favorite cut doesn’t make it in this round it surely will next year when they no longer have the cushion of a reserve fund to draw from.

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