With the budget tightening and cuts inevitable, most cuts will be made to staff and student services with the rationale being to protect as many resources needed for student success in core content areas. Below please find the specific budget cuts and reduced funding for multiple categories and the rationale behind it:
I will reduce funding for Teacher instructional aides, Full-time office staff, and part-time employees. While I realize the importance and contributions of these staff, reduced funding will take place in order to save funding for actual educational resources. There will still be instructional aides, however, it will now be closely analyzed to see which areas will need these aides the most. As for full-time and part-time staff, I believe we can better prioritize administrative tasks and responsibilities to better save time and reduce the need for duplicate administrative positions.
I will reduce funding for the following two categories under learning resources: textbook adoption and field trips. With reduced funding for textbook adoption, I believe we can better determine which core subjects are in more need of an updated textbook. Meanwhile, with a multitude of digital resources, textbooks are not our sole provider of information, therefore instructors can better utilize digital resources for appropriate content. Secondly, reduced funding for field trips will not put a halt to trips, however, it will permit a stricter evaluation of the appropriateness and level of enrichment these trips can provide. However, I have decided to keep funds intact for academic technology and teacher instructional budget. With society in an advancing digital age, it's imperative we continue to provide all relevant academic technology. Additionally, salaries for teachers are quite limiting as it is so I believe we must keep the teacher instructional budget as is so teachers can adequately prepare and provide all necessary materials for their classrooms and lesson plans.
The biggest reduction and cuts in funding will affect student services. Reduction in funding will affect athletic/recreation programs, student activity buses, after-school programs, and preschool special education. I believe in the importance of athletic/recreation programs and after-school programs so this is why I will not reduce a huge percentage of its funding, however, the reduction is caused by my intent on keeping the largest funding on learning and library resources. This also includes a cut of half the budget for student activity buses, since I would rather this money go toward after-school enrichment programs. Secondly, I will reduce funding for preschool special education, simply because preschool is not yet a mandated requirement for school districts to provide and I would prefer to see special education funding going towards K-12 students. Lastly, I have decided to cut parent resource centers and positive behavior supports. My rationale behind this is knowing that parents have the option to visit community libraries to access technology and the money that goes towards providing personal aides to shadow students with behavioral issues can go towards preventing further cuts from athletic and after-school programs.
The last reduced funding will impact building services, particularly building repair and maintenance, and staff development for teachers. I have decided to cut only a quarter of this budget knowing that we can still maintain a safe and clean environment for all students and staff. This slight reduction will not deeply affect maintenance and with no cuts to custodial staff, I am sure the safety and cleanliness of our schools will be maintained. I have decided to reduce funding for staff development because I find more importance lying in offering employee tuition reimbursements where they can learn new skills and potentially earn a higher degree. Workshops and the ability to attend conferences will still be available but limited.
Concerning specific categories that I decided not to cut or reduce funding for was based on the rationale of keeping all possible resources for student success. I believe we must keep all funding for instructional staff and their health benefits. It's imperative we find and keep our teachers so we must provide job security and benefits. With library funding, I have decided that will be absolutely no cuts to library resources, including staff because libraries generate curiosity and provide an enriching environment for students to pursue their studies and explore various subjects. Concluding, I did not reduce any funding for summer school since it offers the opportunity to attend remedial classes for struggling students and offers core content courses for students looking to advance their studies.
Overall, these budget cuts will keep intact the main purpose of our schools and that is to provide a sound education that keeps up with our advancing society. It is my hope in the future that funding increases for education so that we will be able to expand upon our student services.
See below for the specific numbers pertaining to budget cuts:
