School budget delay discussed

PALMER -- The first 2004-2005 budget public comment period at Wednesday's Matanuska-Susitna Borough School Board meeting brought forth concerns addressing the proposed $8 million cuts the school district faces if current legislative funding remains for fiscal year 2005. The board has postponed such cuts with high hopes that legislation that would increase the education foundation formula passes and eliminates the need for all or some of the cuts to make the budget balance. Many community members who spoke at the meeting first praised the district and board before stating their concerns with the cuts.

"I have to applaud the school board and the district for their efforts to get the legislation to fund education," said Nancy Scheufele, before voicing her concerns about the possibility of closing smaller schools and the restructuring of the Extended Learning Program for the gifted and talented. Scheufele joined with about a dozen other audience members to voice concerns about the proposed ELP, librarian, nurse and custodial cuts and restructuring.

"I'm very concerned about the safety of the children at the seven schools where nurses would be cut," said Big Lake Elementary nurse Lynda Hahn. "You cannot schedule emergencies between the hours of 10 and 2."

One proposed cut is to replace each 12-month custodian with a nine-month custodian. Classified Employee Association president Ron Rucker spoke to the board in opposition of that change.

"There will not be a reduction of expectations of what they do," Rucker said. "And knowing them, what they will continue to do."

The proposed elimination of librarians at five elementary schools took up much of the comment period. The district would hire library tutor-advisors to replace the librarians laid off.

"Students' test scores tend to be higher in schools where there is a qualified librarian," said Kirk Thompson, Meadow Lakes Elementary School librarian. Thompson and other librarians said that with the pressures of meeting Adequate Yearly Progress, cutting librarians should not even be considered.

Parents pleaded that the restructuring of the district's gifted services program to only serve those students with an IQ of 145 and above would be detrimental to those students that show potential but not an extremely high IQ.

"I'm not here to complain, but I am here to speak up for my daughter and other students and parents," Steve Miller said. "I have to say that my experience in life has shown that intelligence measured by IQ is important, but motivation is more important."

Jamie Hazlett, a junior at Wasilla High School and the only student to speak during the comment period, was also concerned.

"I'm here tonight to implore you not to cut the ELP program," Hazlett said. "The ELP program is teaching our future leaders, and isn't that the most important thing?"

The next budget public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m., March 17 in Willow.