The school day next semester will be longer for students at Les Cheneaux Community Schools, allowing the school to be closed for an extra 10 days. These are among 10 measures adopted by the Board of Education Monday, December 18, to reduce a $206,839 budget deficit created by overspending and revenue reductions. They should save the district $128,475, about $15,000 of that saved by the 10-day closure.

The board also authorized selling a rental house at the southeast corner of the school property, which could bring as much as $100,000, but maybe not within the 2006-2007 fiscal year. Citing sluggish property and home sales, trustees said they have no idea when a buyer may appear.

The board adopted $28,775 in actual cuts. A proposal to eliminate the printed edition of the district’s newsletter to save $600 was abandoned. The remaining deficit of about $178,064, will be covered by the district’s fund equity. The fund equity is $286,665.

Superintendent Rod Goehmann said the district may see another $49,000 in savings on health care and prescription costs because the district has received fewer claims than it did at this same time last year.

The most obvious change will be the earlier start and end of the school day, and an extra week of vacation in February. By adding 35 minutes to each day, the district will make up enough time in the year to close an additional 10 days, including Friday, January 19, Friday, April 13, and Friday, June 1.

Starting Monday, January 22, classes will start at 8 a.m., and the school day will end at 3:27 p.m. for the high school and middle school and each class period will be five minutes longer. High school and middle school now start at 8:20 a.m. and end at 3:12 p.m. Elementary school times have not been set, but will reflect the new longer school day.

School will be closed for a week Monday, February 5, through Friday, February 9, and for a long weekend Friday, February 16, and Monday, February 19. Closing the school deep in the middle of winter will save the district money on heating and electricity, Superintendent Rod Goehmann said. The dates adopted are also expected to have the least impact on studies and teacher schedules.

Susie Rutledge, president of the Les Cheneaux Schools support staff union objected.

“By adding 35 minutes to each day, you will eliminate 10 days of pay to the custodians, kitchen, and bus drivers, and I just wanted to point out that they will be taking the biggest hit, and they’ve already taken a big hit,” Mrs. Rutledge said, referring to staff and hours cuts, and the summer custodial layoffs adopted two years ago to trim the budget.

Mr. Goehmann agreed.

“I’m sure it isn’t the best way to do this, but it’s what we’ve been able to come up with,” Mr. Goehmann said.

He said other districts are making similar adjustments in the wake of a school funding crisis caused by

rapidly increasing expenditures and only modest increases in per-pupil funding provided by Michigan’s school aid program. Some school administrators and employees want the state to provide more money to cover escalating insurance costs and a school employee retirement benefit program. Declining enrollment is also hurting, because the state funds schools on a per-pupil basis.

Les Cheneaux Community Schools has lost approximately 40 students over the past three years, and now has 372 students, compared to 409 in 2004.

The school board adopted a budget with a $34,133 deficit in June, and planned to cover the deficit with the district’s “rainy day” savings, or fund equity. Unforeseen costs totaling $145,081, and $27,625 in reduced revenue, however, have increased the deficit by another $172,706 over the past six months.

Trustee Dave Sudol described the proposed cuts as putting a $30,000 bandage on a $206,000 wound, but trustees and administrators are reluctant to make any other cuts at this time.

“Mid-year cuts are the hardest to make,” Mr. Goehmann said, since school is already underway.

The school board also eliminated $3,000 from teaching supplies, cutting funds that are not specifically allocated.

Another $5,000 will be saved by turning the heat down at 3 p.m. instead of 4 p.m.

Bussing has been cut for fourth through sixth grade boys basketball, and for seventh through eighth grade girls volleyball. Family members will now have to drive the players to and from games. Bussing will not be provided for the high school girls volleyball invitational tournaments, and the boys and girls track teams will be driven to, but not from, track meets in Pickford and Brimley. Mr. Goehmann said savings on driving from the track meets will be realized in not paying bus driver salaries to wait for the meets to end. The athletic program transportation cuts will save $1,500.

“Non-essential” field trips that have not yet been determined will be cut to save $1,200. Trustees were told that field trips like the annual release of salmon raised in the classroom, and science field work excursions are safe, and considered part of students’ education.

Bussing home from after-school Homework Lab will not be provided if there are only two to three students who need transportation. The measure is expected to save $375, and parents and students will be alerted when bussing will not be available.

The food service clerk’s hours will be reduced by one hour each day to save $900.

Paper supplies will be limited school-wide to save $500, and the district is researching ways to save even more on paper.

An unused, handmade, timber frame building, made for and donated to the school by an Alternative Community Education class and former resident Greg Diamond, will be sold to raise an estimated $1,000.