Who/what gets cut by South Bend schools = $10 million question

November 08, 2011|By Colleen Ferreira (cferreira@wsbt.com), Click here to follow Colleen on Twitter | By Colleen Ferreira (cferreira@wsbt.com), Click here to follow Colleen on Twitter

SOUTH BEND — South Bend Community School Corp. faces a $10 million struggle as it moves forward with its 2012-2013 budgets.

Some say, blame the state for reducing funding to schools across Indiana last year.

Others say enrollment keeps going down, that means less state funding per student.

To balance the budget, cuts will be made somewhere within the district ... but where?

"I don't think at this point in time, it's time to put out the panic button," said Carole Schmidt, interim superintendent. Still, decisions have to be made on how to make up for the $10 million shortfall.

"This is all a result of state action, nothing the school corporation did and it's come on us quickly," said Roger Parent, school board president.

Just last year the state reduced the amount of money available to each school district in Indiana.

Add in the loss of students to the new voucher program, a steady decrease in enrollment and a new state funding formula to schools, the district has its challenges.

In order to get the budget back on track, the corporation will face cutbacks.

"We're not sure yet where we're gonna cut first," said Schmidt.

Some reductions may come from attrition. Schmidt expects roughly 50 retirements next year and likely the school corporation will not replace those employees.

"Ninety-four percent of our budget is in salaries and budget and that means people, so that means we'll need to reduce positions,” Schmidt said.

“I think ultimately we're going to have some cuts in personnel," Parent said

Schmidt said the district hopes to have a plan of action by the first of the year. She will present proposed reductions to board membrs before winter break.

"This is public money, and we have a responsibility to spend it well," Schmidt said.

Some good news in all this, this year's school budget is right on track.

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