Rochester School Leaders Will Reveal Potential Budget Cuts Tonight

The will hear tonight about potential solutions to a projected budget shortfall next school year. 

The district is facing a $10.8 million deficit for the 2012-13 school year.

The budget projection assumes savings from about 60 teacher retirements and savings from employees now contributing 20 percent for health insurance. It also assumes additional costs that will accompany the district's change to all-day kindergarten.

The district's fund balance is $23.5 million.

Board members have asked for possible budget cuts that would absorb $3.5 million to $6.1 million of the deficit; the rest would be taken from the fund balance.

Daniel Romzek, the district's assistant superintendent for business, will present a detailed look at the budget at tonight's board meeting. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. and is open to the public in the

Among the potential cuts:

• Contracting transportation services (or saving through collective bargaining) would save $1.3 million.
• Contracting custodial services (or saving through collective bargaining) would save $1.6 million.
• Allowing about 100 school-of-choice students would generate $816,800.
• Cuts to learning consultant program would save $1.4 million.
• Cuts to the media specialists program would save $802,146.

Other possibilities: cuts to para-educators, cutting five teaching positions, reducing clerical staff and the elimination of middle school athletics.

Details of the presentation can be seen in the Agenda Packet PDF file attached to this story.

Also tonight, the board will hear an "Academic Spotlight" presentation from 's media specialist and third-graders.