BonnerSprings.com

A somber mood filled the room Monday night as members of the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Board of Education discussed major cuts in the budget that might need to be made in the coming year.

Much rides on Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ plan of attack for repairing an expected $1 billion shortfall in Kansas’ state budget, which she will announce Monday. Superintendent Robert Van Maren said that, in light of the situation, cuts are a necessary evil, but hopefully one that won’t leave the district short-handed.

“As K-12 makes up over 50 percent of the entire state budget, it is clear that we are going to have to do some belt-tightening to do our fair share with helping the people of this state through this financial crisis,” Van Maren said. “However, we cannot be cut to the point that we lose the good people we have recruited and trained over the last few years.”

Nothing will be finalized until the board meeting in February, but Van Maren proposed cuts in the neighborhood of $300,000 to $500,000 this year.

Suggested cuts raised by Van Maren included a rehiring freeze for open positions and part-time staff and decreasing the number of custodial and food service staff. Ideas for nonpersonnel cuts, such as reducing extracurricular activities and the amount of money spent on school supplies and transportation, also were discussed. In addition, Van Maren recommended a voluntary salary reduction and offering a $3,500 bonus to any eligible staff members willing to retire by the end of the school year.

Though the subject matter seemed grim, Van Maren also added an encouraging note to the night’s discussion.

“We should look at this as an opportunity for growth,” Van Maren said. “I feel pretty good about where we are with these general numbers. I’m going to be positive about this.”

In other action, the board:

• Unanimously approved accepting a bid for a new concession stand at Bonner Springs High School. The successful bid of $180,973 was made by Commercial Development Management LLC, Bonner Springs.

• Heard a report from Gayle Bertram, assistant principal at Bonner Springs Elementary School, on the progress of the summer school program. Bertram said the program serves the students in ways that go above and beyond their educational needs.

“Most of our students are at-risk students, so two meals a day are something we are glad we can provide for them,” Bertram said of the meals provided daily during the four-week program.

Bertram also cited certain problems associated with the program.

“We are looking at possibly getting rid of Fridays and the Fourth of July due to poor attendance at these times,” she said.

The board discussed possible solutions to the poor attendance problem, such as conducting the program later in the summer or getting parents involved in the planning process.

“Issues at the elementary school aren’t kid issues, they are family issues,” Van Maren said.

• Approved warrants in the amount of $458,770.24.

• Approved construction bills, totaling $8,082, from ACI/Boland Inc. and Vesta Lee Lumber Co.

• Discussed a budget discussion for school district officials from around the state scheduled for 5 p.m. Jan. 13 at Emporia State University. The discussion will cover Sebelius’ Jan. 12 announcements.

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