Marshall school leaders outline $1.9 million in possible cuts if operating referendum fails

District administrators told the Marshall Public School District board they face nearly $2,000,000 in annual planned deficits and outlined $1.9 million in potential reductions the district would implement if an operating referendum on the November ballot does not pass.

"$2,000,000 is that's very significant. That's gonna impact programs and people," Jeremy, a district administrator, told the board as he and Board member Sarah Runti walked through a list of possible reductions.

Administrators said the district has used reserve funds to cover planned deficits in the recent two years but that continuing to do so is unsustainable. The presentation listed proposed staffing and program reductions that together reduce district costs by roughly $1.9 million. The district presented the list publicly to inform the community and to encourage voters to weigh in before the November election.

Key proposals described by district staff included: - Not filling the principal of special programs position (vacant). - Not filling a technology integration support position (recently retired). - Eliminating one administrative assistant and one custodial position. - Removing a behavioral coach post. - Cutting six career-and-technical-education (CTE) support staff positions while keeping the CTE center open. - Eliminating five academic support positions (instructional coaches or noncertified intervention staff). - Eliminating three elementary classroom aides specific to Parkside and three core elementary classroom positions (by lowest enrollment), three core middle-school positions and two core high-school positions. - Eliminating three junior-high activities (junior high softball, junior high speech, junior high track) and the district gymnastics program; increasing activity fees and charging for senior passes (previously free) to meet an $81,000 activities target. - An additional $10,000 reduction in software and supplies budgets and renegotiation of contracted services. - Eliminating one transportation route and reverting to a one-mile eligibility radius at Parkside and Southview elementary schools (students living within one mile would not qualify for busing).

Beth and Jeremy emphasized that the CTE center would remain open despite cuts to some CTE staff positions. They also said the district would seek savings from renegotiated contracts and other operating efficiencies.

The board did not vote on any of the proposed reductions during the meeting; the slide deck and discussion were presented as a public explanation of what would happen if voters do not approve the operating referendum. Administrators urged community members to visit the district referendum website, review the tax calculator, and help educate neighbors about the options. The district said the referendum will be the only item on the November 4 ballot, with early voting from September 19 through November 4 at the district office; all voting will be centralized at the district office for this election.

Administrators told the board the list of reductions is intended to be transparent and not the desired outcome. Jeremy said the alternatives are to increase revenues through the referendum or to reduce expenses, conceding that "we can't cut our way to success." The district asked residents to vote and to use the website for more information.