The Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved $4,669,957 in budget cuts at their Thursday, May 9, meeting.
The vote to approve the cuts was 9-0.
“Anything we cut is going to impact students,” said Virgil Harden, the district’s chief financial officer. “It was painful to make cuts.”
Making the budget cut decisions was a collaborative process, going down to the building level. Budget cuts were made “as far away from the classroom as possible.”
Virgil Harden, GIPS Chief Financial Officer, (Grand Island Public Schools, Courtesy)
The budget cuts include eliminating the front receptionist position at the Kneale Administration Building, 3.0 FTE positions for the District Leadership team, 11 FTE middle school certified positions, 3 FTE middle school classified positions, one high school administration position, 17 FTE high school certified positions, and two FTE high school classified positions.
The budget cuts approved were:
*Eliminate the front receptionist position at the Kneale Administration Building. The public will enter the building through the Human Resources Department entrance. 1.0 FTE. Amount: $53,000.
*Eliminate three District Leadership Team administrative positions. 3.0 FTE. Amount: $427,313.
*Eliminate Innovation and Engagement line item budget. Amount: $36,816.
*Eliminate contract with Eduction Advisory Board. Amount: $27,000.
*Eliminate contracted lobbyist. Amount: $40,000.
*Various line item budget reductions from Communications Department. Amount: $175,000.
*Eliminate K-12 Insights/Let’s Talk contract from Communications Department. Amount: $25,000.
*Shift IDEA expenditures to reclassify expenditures for certified positions at preschool. Amount: $115,000.
*Allocating non-public money to pay for certified preschool teaching positions. Amount: $100,000.
*Information technology. Cut software, licensing, services, $100,000.
*Information technology. Cut support staff position. 1.0 FTE. Amount: $35,000.
*Eliminate districtwide administrative position. 1.0 FTE. Amount: $75,000.
*Reduce elementary school transportation cost. Amount: $50,000.
*Early childhood (elementary). Amount: $100,000.
*Building budget reduction (elementary). Amount: $116,823.
*Reduce transportation cost (middle school). Amount: $300,000.
*Eliminate various certified positions. 11.0 FTE. Amount: $770,000.
*Eliminate various classified positions. 3.0 FTE. Amount: $105,000.
*Building budget reduction (Barr): Amount: $10,485.
*Building budget reduction (Walnut): Amount: $11,315.
*Building budget reduction (Westridge): Amount: $9,875.
*Close Wyandotte building (former Starr Elementary School building). Amount: $258,000.
*Reduce transportation cost (Newcomers), (high school). Amount: $56,000.
*Eliminate administration position. (High School). Amount: $90,000.
*Eliminate various certified positions. (High School). 17.0 FTE. Amount: $1,190,000.
*Eliminate various classified positions. (High School). 2.0 FTE. Amount: $70,000.
*Defund Education, law, and Public Safety Academy line item budget (High School). Amount: $43,000.
*High School budget reduction. Amount: $20,329.
TOTAL: $4,669,957.