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	The Manchester Enterprise A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

Board considers suggestions to cut costs, increase revenue

Dozens of ideas are being considered to eliminate shortfall

By Edward Freundl, Heritage Newspapers

PUBLISHED: February 15, 2007

The Manchester School District's budget deficit was a prime topic of discussion at a special board meeting on Feb. 6.

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The board considered dozens of cost-saving or revenue-generating suggestions from administrators, faculty, staff and the public to find an extra half-million dollars or so to add to the district's bottom line.

Representatives took turns presenting their ideas, which were repeated in many cases.

Those common items will form the basis for discussions, said Superintendent David Oegema.

"At our February (board) meeting, you should be setting a target of perhaps 20 or 25 ideas," he told the board. "You need to prioritize your target and what amount that will be."

Some of those common items included having outside groups pay for use of school facilities, implementing energy conservation practices and reviewing transportation policies, especially regarding Saturday sporting events.

Among the most unpopular cost-cutting suggestions were to eliminate the preschool program, close the fitness center and eliminate computer labs at the elementary level.

Most of the ideas came without a price tag, so their effect on the district's bottom line won;t be known until they are researched.

The board took no action on specific items at the meeting; that will come later as the suggestions are refined into workable proposals over the coming months.

"This is just the beginning of the discussion; we're not making any decisions tonight," said Board of Education President Ron Ellison.

The next board meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Feb. 19 at the district offices, 410 City Road.

Edward Freundl is a reporter for Heritage Newspapers. He can be reached at 428-8173 or efreundl@heritage.com.

At that same meeting, the board chose the Michigan Leadership Institute as the search firm to find a replacement for Oegema, who is retiring in June.

at the end of this academic year.

Representatives of MLI and the Michigan Association of School Boards made separate presentations to the board before the 5-1 vote to hire MLI for a fee of $6,000.