The Orion school board will vote Wednesday, March 17, on a list of budget cuts for 2010-11, but that vote is not the end of the budget preparation process.
By state law, the board has to notify personnel in March if budget cuts might affect them. Some or all of those notified about layoffs may be brought back once the amount of state aid is determined.
District officials want to know what residents think about the budget.
During the week of Monday, March 22, a master list of budget reductions will be posted on the district web site, http://orionschools.us/.
Also, parents will receive a list of cuts on paper or by e-mail.
Comments on the cuts may be sent to boe@orionschools.us.
In addition, the public is invited to discuss the cuts in 60- to 90-minute meetings focusing on the cuts at each school. Everyone is invited to come to any or all of the meetings.
“We want to provide a forum to help parents and community members understand the rationale that support these adjustments and reassure all that our quality of education will be maintained,” Superintendent David Deets said.
The meetings will be the week after spring break:
• Orion High School, 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 6th, with Principal Ron Harris, Athletic Director Nathan DeBaillie and Deets presenting information.
• C.R. Hanna Elementary School, 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, with Principal R.C. Lowe and Deets.
• Orion Middle School, 7 p.m., Thursday, April 8, with Principal Gary Heard and Deets.
Also, the superintendent is hoping to have one or two members of the school board at each meeting.
District officials also want to start a blog for people who want to share their opinions publicly, but are not able to attend meetings, or who prefer to use this method of communicating.
Deets asks only that people not start their comments with “When I was in school …” Some ideas from the past may work today, but the world of education has changed a lot in the last 15 to 30 years, he said.
“We are confident that by the time school starts next year, we will have a budget that reflects the most cost -effective plan to utilize our scarce resources that your tax dollars provide,” the superintendent said.
He is optimistic that Orion schools will maintain a high level of education, and will improve, too.
