If you are interested in school funding, you missed great opportunities at these meetings to learn about the Alsea School District (ASD) budget. Before the initial meeting, LaRae Sullivan, Alsea School Business Manager gave a detailed presentation on the ASD budget for school year 2023/24. The committee then discussed the current proposal for the 23/24 school year budget, which is balanced after extensive cutbacks in every area of operations. State law requires that each school district submit a balanced budget for approval by June 30th each year.
Sadly, this balanced budget includes a 40% Reduction in Force. At this point, when staff resign, administration evaluate if that position should be filled and, if so, how. For instance, the position of SPED director will be filled by incoming Superintendent Krista Nieraeth, who is also qualified as a SPED Director. Some vacancies will be filled by rolling responsibilities into another job descriptions.
The Budget Committee Meeting on May 2 included a presentation by K-12 Principal Eric Clendenin on the proposed staffing and educational model for next school year, which will include LAHO for K-3 only. The current plan, which is still in development based on staffing and enrollment, intends to maintain single grade classrooms at the elementary if possible. The middle and high school will most likely transition to a seven-period day, with classes 54 minutes long. Each instructional area in the middle and high schools will be served by one teacher 7-12, with a PE and a CTE instructor. Alsea School District is currently interviewing applicants for an agricultural sciences instructor, which will help draw Perkins funding toward the budding Career and Technical Education program. In other CTE news, Alsea School District has been approved by the Oregon Department of Education to launch a Forestry Program.
The bulk of the May 2 meeting was spent with committee members asking questions on the proposed budget submitted. At the May 9 meeting, Business Manager LaRae Sullivan took the committee through the budget line by line, giving details on each entry and answering questions. The committee did vote to suggest that the school board accept this proposed budget for school year 2023/2024.
A copy of the budget document may be inspected or obtained at the Alsea School District Office, 301 South 3rd Street, Alsea Oregon, between the hours of 11 am and 3 pm, or on the District website at https://alsea.k12.or.us/district-office/financial-reports/
