Concerned about the possibility of budget cuts to the elementary music program, parents and students packed the St. Ignace Area Schools Board of Education meeting Monday, May 10, to voice their support for the music and band department. For the school district to remain solvent, the board faces a $800,000 budget shortfall for the 2010-2011 school year, and will vote on a final budget at its meeting in June.

Superintendent Mike Springsteen outlined several possible cuts at the meeting, but he said that approximately $300,000 will need to come from personnel cuts, which still need to be determined. He emphasized that the board's goal will be to keep the instructional component as intact as possible, but warned that cutting some academic programs will be unavoidable.

Alternative solutions to address the budget deficit were raised by citizens during the public comment session, including raising money through fundraisers and looking for grants. Many people, some of them students, some Band Boosters members, and some concerned community members, took turns addressing the board about potential cuts to the music department.

“We would like to assist the board in coming up with solutions to the budget deficit,” said a member of the Band Boosters program during the meeting. “We would suggest the board invite stakeholders from every facet of the community to sit at the table together to work on solving the budget crisis.”

Elizabeth Brown of St. Ignace, who has been involved in music education for the last 35 years, said cutting the elementary music program would not be an acceptable resolution for the school district's problem, pointing out that early childhood education plays a crucial role in a student's success.

“You're placing emphasis at the wrong end of a program,” she said. “In the field of music education, this is referred to as an inverted pyramid. Emphasis at the top of the music program is not where education needs to focus. Music education must begin at preschool or kindergarten and developmentally spiral through from there, not vice versa.”

Others pointed out that unlike athletic programs, all students can take part in music programs, and that a growing music department like the one in St. Ignace could attract students to the school, or keep them there.

Mr. Springsteen said that a major part of the cuts will come from line items and supplies, athletics, and technology, totaling as much as $140,000, and that approximately $350,000 will come from the school's fund balance, leaving roughly $300,000 to be cut. Areas that are still in flux include support staff pay negotiations, possible retirements, and possibly privatizing some of the school's services, he said.

Putting the school district's budget into context, Mr. Springsteen informed the board it will be receiving $165 to $200 less per student from the state next year, and that 30 fewer students are expected to attend the school next year. Retirement costs will also be up by three percent from last year.

While Mr. Springsteen applauded citizens at the meeting for supporting the band, saying that citizen input helps the board makes its decisions, he noted that cuts to the program will still need to be considered.

“It's good to voice your opinions, but band is part of the puzzle,” he said.

The school's band and athletic programs, Mr. Springsteen said, are available to students outside of the district. These students are charged a fee to attend these programs, but the district has still subsidized their costs. To raise revenue for the deficits, he said the board will consider limiting these programs to students enrolled in the St. Ignace.district.

“The idea would be to keep kids in our program,” he said. “We have a complete program, but we won't be able to keep it unless we raise revenue.”

During the meeting, the board voted to reduce the school district's support staff by two positions for the 2010-2011 school year, terminating one instructional aide position and changing two full-time support positions, one instructional aide and one secretary, to part-time status.

The board also approved a pay freeze for administrative positions for the next school year. Mr. Springsteen said the freeze will save the district more than $12,000. This is the only segment of the staff to agree to a pay freeze, he noted.

Regarding the school millage, which was voted down inthe May 4 election, Mr. Springsteen said the school board will need to discuss whether it will propose the millage again at the election in November, which will allow the school district time to qualify for a lower bond rating from the Michigan Department of Treasury.

“From my way of thinking, we should go for it again,” he said, adding that, in his view, the school district needs buses, technology, and a wood chip heating plant to stay competitive in the future.

Elementary school teacher Helena Shepard was named the 2010 St. Ignace Area Schools Employee of the Year. She was not present at the meeting.