Focus on the Future meets in Decatur
Posted on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
DECATUR — Superintendent LeRoy Ortman met with the newly formed Focus on the Future group Tuesday night to get feedback on possible budget cuts for the Decatur School District next year.
Ortman gave the group of 15 parents, students, staff and community members an overview of the programs the Decatur School District has that are not required by the state.
Ortman said the district is currently financially stable, but he doesn’t know if its progress will be adequate for the Arkansas Board of Education. He explained that he would like to have some programs in mind that could be cut if the state board wants the school to tighten its budget even more next year.
The school currently offers transportation, two foreign languages, two media specialists, two guidance counselors, extended contracts for coaches and other staff, two cafeterias and an athletic program. The state does not require transportation. Decatur could conceivably cut back to one foreign language, one media specialist, one guidance counselor and one cafeteria and stay within state guidelines. The district could also shorten extended contracts and cut back on athletic programs.
Even though not all of the programs are required by state guidelines, logistics would make it difficult to do without some of the programs. School transportation, for example, is expected by parents, and many would probably choose to send their children to another district if transportation was no longer available, Ortman pointed out.
There are only eight students enrolled in French classes at Decatur High School, but doing away with the two classes would not save the district a significant amount of money. Decatur’s athletic program costs the school more than $ 150, 000 but also provides students and the community with many benefits. Losing one or more of the athletic programs could also cost the school students.
Ortman said he doesn’t have a specific amount that has to be cut, but that $ 50, 000 to $ 100, 000 should be adequate. Enrollment in the district has recently risen to 510 students. If those numbers hold out, the school could be doing better than projected next year. Ortman left members of the group with an assignment. He asked them to go home and discuss the options with friends, family and neighbors and to meet back on Dec. 4 to report the community’s feelings on the matter.
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