A new budget reduction plan for Hazelwood School District will be discussed at the school board meeting 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 16 at the district’s Learning Center, 15955 New Halls Ferry Rd. in Florissant.
The plan, which will be implemented on July 1, is expected to trim $6.6 million from the annual budget by eliminating 16 physical education teacher positions, band and orchestra in elementary schools during school hours, funding for field trips, 25 percent of custodial staff and several other major cuts.
“Nobody wants to make any budget reductions or eliminate any positions, but we find ourselves in an operating shortfall and we need to try to balance the budget,” said Dwight L. Lindhorst, assistant superintendent of finance and facilities.
Earlier on Tuesday, Missouri Jobs With Justice joined teachers and parents throughout the district to protest these “unwise and short sighted cuts,” the group stated in a press release. Outside Coldwater Elementary School, a group chanted, “Hey hey, ho ho, these budget cuts have got to go.” Several staff members thanked the group for their action.
Many parents turned to social media to voice their concerns and the district has received numerous phone calls since releasing the budget reduction plan. According to Kimberly McKenzie, district director of communications, one high school student even got in trouble by disrupting class to circulate a petition to counter the budget plan.
Eighty-two percent of the district’s operating budget goes toward salaries and benefits. “When you have to save large amounts of money, it usually involves eliminating positions,” Lindhorst said.
Lindhorst said the district tried to eliminate positions “as far away from students as possible.” By eliminating two assistant superintendent positions, getting rid of tuition reimbursement for administrators, and eliminating professional development for administrators, more than $900,000 will be saved.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education recommends districts have a superintendent for every 100 certified staff members. By that count, Hazelwood should have around 13 superintendents, but now it has seven, according to McKenzie.
Lindhorst said the budget shortfall is mainly due to a loss of revenue through property taxes. Forty-two percent of the district’s operating revenue comes from property taxes. Comparing today’s property value to “the great recession in 2008,” Lindhorst said property values throughout the district have decreased by 22 percent, or $15.7 million.
“That’s a large drop in revenue,” said Lindhorst.
Lindhorst said the deficit is due to community changes such as Jamestown Mall’s closure in 2014 and vacancies at St. Louis Outlet Mall.
The district currently receives over 56 percent of revenue in operating funds from local taxes, 34 percent from the state and less than 10 percent from the federal government.
Despite major cutbacks, Lindhorst said the district tries to maintain competitive salaries and benefits to “attract and retain” quality faculty, staff, and administrators. “The raises have contributed to the shortfall,” he said. “We were trying to buy our time and hope that revenue increased more than they have. It hasn’t happened, so here we are.”
For the last three years, the district has been using reserved funds to cover deficits.
The budget reduction plan was approved by the school board after discussion by the budget advisory committee, a public group comprised of teachers, students, administrators and parents that began meeting three years ago.
McKenzie said the decision to approve the plan was “not done behind closed doors” and that anyone was welcome to have joined the advisory committee.
According to data from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the district also has experienced a significant decline in enrollment since 2008. In 2008, the district enrolled over 19,000 students. Last year, not even 18,000 students enrolled.
The district’s current operating deficit is approximately $15 million. Next year, with the implementation of the budget reduction plan, the operating deficit is expected to be $12.7 million. The district is still looking to reduce an additional $6 million in the future.
To view the school district’s past financial reports, click here.
This story is published as part of a partnership between The American and The Huffington Post.
