WESTBROOK, Minnesota (STPNS) --     WWG  ? Many districts around the state are dealing with budget cuts from minor to major in nature. Some districts have had to make severe cuts the past several years and some are facing drastic cuts now.

    Superintendent Loy Woelber has been warning that the WWG district is facing some budget cuts this year, and larger cuts the following couple of years.

    One of the solutions proposed at previous planning meetings a couple of years ago was to convert to a pre K-6 7-12 school. This would combine the elementary and move the seventh and eighth grade to the high school. This is proposed for the fall of ?09.



    Presently Woelber proposed some cuts for this year: cuts would include one full time elementary position; possible sharing of ESL with Tracy; food service changes; superintendent  sharing with Balaton; summer library reduction at Westbrook; cottonwood collaborative fee; cuts in bus routes; inservice/CPT cuts for Paras; sell additional science time to RRC; counseling services reduction. Total cuts will range between $81,500 to $127,500.

    An increase, from the state, of $50 per pupil unit increases the budget by $45,000, but preliminary post secondary student options would cancel that out. Raises for current employees go up by $144,000.

    Woelber said if enrollments hold steady for this year we would be down between $17,000 to $62,500.

    Woelber said the district will also have to pass a new excess levy as the current levy will run out in a couple of years.

    Woelber asked the board to consider a resolution to transform the current educational structure to a Pre K - 6 grade facility in Walnut Grove and a 7 - 12 facility in Westbrook.

    Woelber listed potential savings by making this move add up to an estimated $249,000 to $314,000 per year. The bulk of the savings would be from eliminating 5 full time positions.

    There are several other factors that could affect savings and cuts, enrollments and retirements would be the biggest factors.

    Lynn Arndt asked how cuts would be made in changing to this format. Arndt felt the staff should have more input into the way the cuts are made and how the transition would be set up.

    Woelber said the financial aspect is the thing that drives these changes. He said they are trying to take a balanced approach to these changes.

    Carolyn Enstad asked when the transition was to  take effect. Woelber said it would be for the fall of ?09. While this change will go a long way to solve future budget problems the district will still need a new excess levy to stay in business.

    Woelber told the board, as the district grew, extra staff was hired, facing decreasing enrollments, staff will have to be reduced.

    The board added their comments questioning if the time was right for this change. Also they were concerned how parents would react. Although some of the board members had reservations, they agreed there is not much they can do to avoid this change. The board felt they needed to assure people this will be a necessary and positive change for the district and its students. One important thing will be, Paras riding on the elementary busses to supervise.

    In the end the board passed the  resolution by a unanimous roll call vote.

    Passing the resolution now allows the district to do planning for this change.

    Leo Theisen told the board the senior class sent in their last payment for their trip to Washington D.C. They will leave at 4:00 a.m. Monday morning.

    Lacey Hoffman told the board their class would like to go to San Antonio, TX instead of Washington D.C. She said they would travel by bus and make visits to St. Louis and Kansas City. She said they could do this trip for less money and more students would participate. Last year?s trip was $1,500, this year?s trip is $1,300, and the proposed cost for next year is $1,100.

    The board decided not to change the policy that the trip had to include Washington D.C. A comment was made, the reason they specified the destination was to eliminate trips to vacation spots. The board approved the original trip to Washington D.C.

    BOLT advisor Shannon Helgeson, gave a brief report on the class activities. She said they will have a booth at the Tracy Sportsmen?s Show in April.

    The board approved capital outlay budgets for Walnut Grove and Westbrook. The budgets were held at about the same levels as the past couple of years. The capital outlay for Walnut Grove is $64,953, and the capital outlay for Westbrook is $76,715.

    Woelber said the buildings and grounds committee will do their annual walk through in the next couple of weeks. He also listed several projects for this summer. It will include some roof repair in both sites. Window replacement at Walnut Grove.  Metal shop exhaust and wood shop drop cords. They will be pricing upgrades for Walnut Grove gym bath rooms for handicapped access.

    The board accepted the resignation of Becky Rise.

    The board accepted cash donations from 30 families and organizations for the Walnut Grove gym/activities center  renovation.

    The board approved the advertisement of  a food service director for the  ?08-?09 year. They also approved the advertisement for a business manager for the ?09-10 year.

    According to state statute the district can offer up to $17,000 for teachers taking an early retirement option. The board voted to extend the offer to two teachers that might be interested in this option. The money would go into a health savings account. Woelber said this offer may or may not be repeated next year.

    Principal Paul Olson reported there will be a preschool parents day on Wednesday March 26 and Thursday, March 27.

    The 7 and 8 grade archery team will participate in the state archery tournament at Becker March 29.

    Eleven science fair winners will attend state competition on March 29.