You have likely seen or read the news regarding state cuts to public education in Colorado. It is being described as the greatest hit to education in state history. After the state budget announcement in February, our District is now trying to figure out how to cut millions of dollars from its already dwindling budget. These cuts are horrific and are going to be incredibly tough for us. The District’s share of the $375 million state cut to education equals approximately $6.4 million. That is $497 less for each of the District’s 14,700 students. Other concerns, such as increased costs from PERA, utilities and insurance will only add to the problem, pushing the necessary cost reductions to well over $7 million.Students are going to feel the impact of these cuts. A reduction in funding of this magnitude cannot be absorbed without making extremely difficult decisions about our students’ education. Combined with the state cuts District 49 faced in 2009 and 2010, our funding has now been slashed 10.5 percent, equivalent to $10 million since the 2009-10 school year. About 80 percent of the District’s current budget is invested in staffing, so these huge cuts cannot help but affect employees. We have outstanding teachers and staff who already work extremely hard to provide excellent learning opportunities with the limited resources currently available. Significantly slashing our budget for next year will take a toll on every single one of our staff members, and that impacts students in our classrooms.As a District, we will be putting everything on the table in considering cuts for the upcoming budget year. Cuts in personnel, salary reductions, furlough days and program cuts will be among the options considered, as we grapple with this drastic loss in state funding. Still, our focus remains on ensuring every one of our students receives the highest quality education. We want our community, our parents and our staff to understand the severity of this funding situation. I will be working to collaborate and communicate with our entire District 49 community as we work to make our District’s budgetary decisions.In addition, the Board recently appointed an interim chief education officer to provide leadership as the District transitions into a new leadership and organizational structure with the implementation of the Innovation Initiative. Becky Carter has worked in our District nearly 30 years as a teacher and principal, and then as executive director of elementary education. She currently serves as the charter school liaison for the District. As we move forward in this process, I encourage you to participate and educate yourself about the innovation process, the budget cuts and subsequent changes that are ahead for the District. We have posted many resources at www.d49.org, and the District’s new Innovation Zones are now accepting innovation proposals, so you can submit your ideas for what should be included as our schools develop their innovation plans. I look forward to working with you as we move into the final quarter of the school year. Thank you for your support of our schools and our students.
