Reynolds Tomorrow 2011-12 Online Budget Survey Ends

2011-12 Budget Survey
Now Closed

District Expects to Face Budget Cuts of $6 to $8.2 Million

Survey Participation

In an effort to increase public input into its proposed 2011-12 budget, the Reynolds School district held an online survey of district residents over the past few weeks.

The survey, which closed March 9, 2011, is part of a program called “Reynolds Tomorrow: Tough Choices – Smart Decisions”, information about which can be found on the ReynoldsTomorrow.com website. Individual responses are confidential. Survey results will be combined and shared with each participant and other members of the community.

Sources say about 400 residents participated in the online survey, and that the district was pleased with the overall response.

Tough Choices Ahead

“Oregon’s financial woes mean the Reynolds School district will be faced with tough, challenging and uncomfortable decisions early next year as it decides the 2011-12 budget,” says Theresa Delaney-Davis, chairwoman of the district’s board.

Based on the latest estimates the Reynolds School district expects to face budget cuts of $6 to $8.2 million for the next school year.

Ms. Delaney-Davis will speak at the Wilkes East Neighborhood meeting on March 28th at 7PM, St Aidan's Episcopal Church (174th & NE Glisan), to discuss the district's budget situation and answer residents’ questions.

Recent Budget Cuts

Over the past five years district revenues have fallen more than $7 million, from $98.6 million to about $91.5 million in 2009-10.

During the past three years, the Reynolds district has reduced expenses by $12 million total across all areas. Those reductions forced the district to:

Cut elementary teachers for physical education, library and technology instruction
Cut teaching staff at every school
Reduce custodial and maintenance service
Eliminate middle school athletics
Reduce administrative and support staff

Proposed Budget Cuts

The 2011-12 online survey contained four groups of budget questions with nearly two dozen choices. Participants were asked to prioritize and choose from the following list of cost cutting considerations:

Close one elementary school
Shorten the school year by five to 10 days
Increase student/teacher ratios
Eliminate school counselors at elementary schools
Reduce secondary schools (including Reynolds High School) to a six-period day and reduce electives
Use private contractors to provide some support services (ie food services, transportation)
Delay building maintenance
Delay purchase of new classroom technology and textbooks
Eliminate elementary pull-out class for Talented and Gifted (TAG) students
Change from a five-day to four-day school week. Increase the school day by two hours
Eliminate competitive music programs
Eliminate district funding for student clubs
Eliminate district-matching funds for outdoor school
Eliminate student field trips
Reduce the number of high school varsity athletic teams
Tighten rules to limit student transfers to other school districts

New Programs Being Considered

Not all budget considerations were about cutting items. Below are some areas where funding programs are being considered. To fund any of these programs would require cutting or eliminating the budget for another program.