The elimination of field trips, band and orchestra before school and during the day and a reduction in physical education teacher staff are just a few of the examples of how the Hazelwood School District plans to reduce its budget over the next several years.
The school district will begin 2016-17 school year with a $12.7 million operating deficit and the current year budget shortfall is nearly $15 million dollars.
The district says the shortfall is primarily due to declining property values.
Some of the approved reductions include:
• Reduce the central office budget by more than $900,000
• Eliminate central office positions
• Eliminate professional development and tuition reimbursement for administrators
• Eliminate four band/orchestra positions from elementary level, before school and during the day
• Eliminate 13 physical education positions (elementary and high school levels)
• Eliminate field trips
• Restructuring the alternative education program
• Reduce high school athletic/activity fund by 10%
• Reduce high school extra duty contracts and benefits by 10%
• Reduce per student allocations – high school and middle school
• Eliminate warehouse position (one by attrition)
• Eliminate 25% of custodial positions
• Institute a community building usage fee in 2016-17
These savings total approximately $6.6 million.