District 1 still needs to cut $900,000 from budget

  The Yuma Elementary School District 1 governing board, meeting tonight, is scheduled to make a decision on how to apply policies for budget cuts that will affect the district next school year.

  At their last meeting, the board asked district staff to look into alternative methods of funding to save some nursing and librarian positions, but even if those two cuts aren't made, the district still faces a $900,000 deficit said Board President Greg Wilkinson.

  "So ... we don't have any good answers yet," Wilkinson said. "But when we get back (Tuesday), we will be looking at everything again."

  Superintendent Darwin Stiffler said the board "has the power to reconsider all options at this point."

  Wilkinson said the board will vote tonight about general areas in which to make the cuts, and then could vote on specific cuts at its next meeting, April 14.

  The April 14 meeting will come just one day before the district has to notify certified employees, such as teachers, whether they have a contract for the following year.

  On the close deadline, Wilkinson said he "doesn't feel good about telling anybody they won't have a position next year."

  School districts around the state face the April 15 deadline without knowing exactly how much money they'll get because the state Legislature is still working on balancing its fiscal 2009-2010 budget.

  Stiffler said the problem stems from the expected decrease in state funding combined with a decrease in enrollment.

  And for the last eight years, Stiffler said the district hired about 100 new teachers every year, but with 400 fewer students than last school year, the district is looking at a reduction in force or RIF.

  "Generally, we're not looking at RIF, we're looking for more people to hire," Stiffler said. "This is a different situation this year."

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Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.