At its meeting Tuesday night, the board agreed to go ahead with
a list of more than $350,000 in cuts for the district and Englewood
High School. The list includes eliminating the drafting and cabinet
making programs at the high school and splitting the EHS band
teacher with Flood Middle School.
“I don’t like it,” said board member Heather Hunt. “I don’t want
to do this, but I don’t know how you can avoid making these
changes.”
By By: Corey Dahl
The board of Englewood Schools has approved all but one item on
a list of proposed cuts for next year’s budget.
At its meeting Tuesday night, the board agreed to go ahead with
a list of more than $350,000 in cuts for the district and Englewood
High School. The list includes eliminating the drafting and cabinet
making programs at the high school and splitting the EHS band
teacher with Flood Middle School.
“I don’t like it,” said board member Heather Hunt. “I don’t want
to do this, but I don’t know how you can avoid making these
changes.”
The board removed the proposal to eliminate one counselor at the
high school, however, citing concerns from parents and students.
The district has also found federal money to pay for a health
assistant at EHS, a position that had originally been included in
the cuts.
The cuts represent only a portion of the roughly $1 million the
district will have to eliminate from next year’s budget due to
declining enrollment and rising energy costs. Board members
received the second round of proposed cuts Tuesday night, which
will focus on the elementary and middle schools.
The list suggests cutting positions at Charles Hay, Bishop,
Flood and Sinclair, as well as eliminating the assistant principal
position at Sinclair. Under the proposed changes, the district
would also cut two special education positions, eliminate the
editor of the district’s newsletter and reduce building supply
budgets. Altogether, the cuts would save the district about
$690,000.
The board also discussed forming a committee to look into the
closure of one of the district’s middle schools for the 2007-2008
school year but emphasized that nothing has been decided
yet.
“There have been a lot of rumors about many things, including
closing schools,” said Superintendent Jim McCabe. “And, truthfully,
we haven’t even discussed that formally yet.”
Parent Shelly Fritz-Pelle, whose children participate in band,
said she was disappointed with the decisions that had already been
made, though.
“I’m disappointed,” she said. “Unfortunately, I saw this
coming.”
The board will discuss the second round of proposed budget cuts
at its next meeting March 21.
Contact staff writer Corey Dahl at 303-794-1606, Ext. 1035 or
cdahl@ccnewspapers.com.