The area they say should take the brunt of the cuts...staff salaries and benefits. They want to eliminate $3.3 million from that sector alone.
TRAVERSE CITY -- The Traverse City Area Public School District needs to cut $6 million from its 2010-2011 budget. The area that could be taking the hardest hit is staff salaries and benefits by $3.3 million.
"It is asking for people to sacrifice to continue to be able to provide what we believe is beneficial to the success of our students and the continual role of what TCAPS is known for," says TCAPS superintendent, Jim Feil.
Feil says the cuts may be extreme but less revenue coming in from the state is forcing school districts across the Michigan to face similar circumstances.
"I think this in the realm of what everyone is having to consider at this time. It's not on of the things we desire, we want to always most definitely recognize the quality of staff that we have here at TCAPS, how well they work together, but we're trying to keep a balance in the system," says Feil.
If the $3.3 million cut the impacts could include: increased class sizes and the possibility of students and staff leaving the district.
"We believe we can manage this were our students continue to achieve, and you have to understand that these recommendations are made in the criteria and filter that the board has adopted," says Feil.
Meanwhile, the Traverse City Education Association says the $3.3 million should be cut from somewhere else.
"First of all I think it's the wrong place to cut...We would rather see cuts made further away from the classroom. We'd like to see more administration trimming, administration cuts," says Traverse City Education Association president, John Scrudato.
Scrudato says the cuts could be felt well beyond the classroom.
"The cuts are going to have a direct impact on the community. The more you take away from the employees salaries, the less money they spend at local stores and local businesses. So, there's another side to trying to look at cuts elsewhere instead of salary and benefits," says Scrudato.
This Wednesday, the TCAPS board of education plans to meet for a final public meeting on the budget cut recommendations. Then, next Monday, February 8th, they will meet again to vote on the final recommendations.
For a complete list of these recommendations, you can check out the TCAPS website: http://www.tcaps.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=RyxanndiEzM%3d&tabid=2467&mid=5532
Also, for more on the budget cuts breakdown, check out this 7&4 News story: http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?id=407869
