Superintendent Ralph Grimm's budget reduction committee spent the past few months working to come up with recommendations for the Board of Education. Grimm this week shared the committee's findings with the board.
The committee recommended the elimination of at least 30 positions. Those include teaching, administrative, and support staff positions. More details are expected during a special board meeting January 5, and the board could be asked to vote on the plan as soon as January 11.
The committee's original goal was to find around $2 million in savings, but Grimm said that number could grow.
“Our current list of proposed budget reductions currently stand at $3.35 million dollars of recurring expenditures that should be considered for elimination from the FY 17 budget,” Grimm said.
FY 17 begins July 1, 2016.
Grimm urged the school board to take future steps to continue saving money. Those include a study of building usage. The district has elementary attendance centers, two middle schools, and five elementary schools.
Other proposals include staff monitoring and operating with a balanced budget.
Grimm said the changes will help the district in the long term.
“More significantly is the opportunity to truly look at how we deliver our services to all district stakeholders and to make those changes that will make Galesburg CUSD #205 a destination for those who wish to provide their children with a high quality education,” Grimm said.
Grimm formed the committee because the district faced a $2.6 million dollar deficit for next fiscal year.
