Looking at a $1.6 million cut for next year, Sweetwater County School District No. 2 is seeking places to trim its budget, with student activities being one of the areas under investigation.
Rumors regarding layoff notices issued to staff were communicated to the Green River Star Wednesday morning, but Superintendent Donna Little-Kaumo said those rumors are not true.
Little-Kaumo said discussions with support-level staff have occurred, but layoffs notices were not issued Wednesday morning.
The $1.6 million cut comes from a funding decrease by the Wyoming Legislature. Little-Kaumo said the district expects another $67,000 cut from a federal grant used for employees at Monroe Intermediate School.
Some areas under consideration include the building budget, as well as a retooling of job descriptions for certified employees. Little-Kaumo said the district may see a small reduction in force for support-level employees. However, she believes with other positions possibly opening up, the district may maintain those other positions. However, by state statute, the district is required to inform those employees their positions might be terminated due to reduced funding.
Student activities have become an attractive area to make cuts or changes as well. Board member Steve Core said some discussions have focused on changing student activity fees from $5 at Lincoln Middle School and $10 at Green River High School to $45 at LMS and $75 at GRHS. Another topic discussed involves eliminating the indoor track, spring tennis and spring golf programs.
Meetings with the district’s budget task force are scheduled for Thursday and will allow residents to learn more about the situation the district faces, as well as giving them the opportunity to voice their suggestions. The meetings will take place at the Central Administration Building in the board’s meeting room. The first meeting takes place from 7:30-9:30 a.m., while the second is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The final meeting will take place from 5:30-7 p.m.
While districts across the state are cutting a total of $34 million, Little-Kaumo said her concerns are more focused on what the legislature does next year.
The legislature plans to cut a total $400 million from education and Little-Kaumo notes “$34 million is a long way from $400 million.”
“I hope we can all work it out together,” Little-Kaumo said.
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