Board approves Springfield Public Schools' 2010-2011 budget
June 30, 2010
The board of education approved the budget for the 2010-2011 school year at its June meeting. Declining revenues from the state and an increase of approximately $2.4 million in necessary expenditures, including increased contributions to the retirement system, utility costs, legal fees, and urgent facility maintenance needs required more than $5.1 million in reductions. This is the third consecutive year that Springfield Public Schools has made significant reductions to its budget, totaling more than $15 million over that period. The 2010-2011 budget reduces total staffing by 57 FTE (full time equivalent) via attrition, as well as reductions to Parents As Teachers, fuel and utility costs, purchased services and other areas.
Final cuts to the state budget made by the governor’s office last week included a $70 million reduction in transportation dollars intended for Missouri’s public schools. The net impact to SPS was a further budget reduction of $850,000. To make up for the last minute shortfall, a proposal calling for $500,000 to fund a half percent pay increase for staff to offset an increase in retirement contributions was eliminated. A proposed addition of $350,000 to the district’s reserve fund was also eliminated from the final budget.
A recap of this year's budget discussion is available on The Bottom Line.
The board also approved the the following items at their June meeting:
- Roof replacement at Hillcrest High School and Mann and Sherwood elementary schools.
- The issuance of $17.75 million of bonds as part of the $50 million bond issue approved by voters in Nov. 2009.
- A contract for trash collection and co-mingled recycling with Allied Waste Corporation of Springfield, MO.
Students from Central High School's Central Intelligence broadcast media program were recognized for receiving seven Emmy awards. Central was also recognized for being named one of America's best high schools by Newsweek magazine, for the third year in a row.
Hillcrest High School student Dorial Green-Beckham was recognized for being named the MaxPreps Male Athlete of the Year for his outstanding accomplishments in football, basketball and track. Dorial was also named the Gatorade Missouri Track Athlete of the Year.