SD 88 will join school districts throughout Minnesota in a salute to their local residents serving as school board members during the annual School Board Recognition Week, Feb. 21-25.
This commemorative week is designed to recognize the contributions made by school board members who are charged with the governing of local school districts. School board members are elected or appointed to serve as decision makers in local school districts. They are responsible for formulating policies, approving curricula, maintaining school facilities, and making financial decisions on the use of public funds to educate the children in the community. Their decisions require them to receive special training and to become familiar with state and fed#weral laws. Oftentimes, those decisions are difficult to make and sometimes unpopular.
We salute our local public servants on the ISD 88 Board of Education whose commitment and civic responsibility make local control of public schools possible. Local residents are encouraged to express their appreciation to members of the ISD 88 Board of Education during this special week of the year.
Budget Reduction Process for 2011-12
After reviewing revenue and expenditure projections for the next school year, the ISD 88 Board of Education has instructed administrative team members to prepare a report of actions to consider that will total between $900,000 and $1,300,000 of budget reductions. Administrators are developing a list of possible operational changes for school board review and action in late March.
One "hot topic" raising questions from staff and community members is t#he consideration of adopting a four-day school week. The administrative team is still in the process of developing a plan for future consideration by the school board. No decisions have been made at this time. It is too early in the process to provide answers to questions on this topic. When the administrative report is made about a four-day school week, the school board will determine if the topic should be pursued further. If the district is to pursue the topic further, three community meetings will be held on the topic prior to final action by the school board.