Lakeland District board approves $7.52 million levy recommendation after debate over cuts to programs and staff

The Lakeland District Board of Trustees voted to approve a superintendent-backed recommendation to place a $7,520,000 levy measure on the ballot, trimming a previously proposed $9,520,000 ask and restoring two items after trustee concerns. The meeting began at 5:30 p.m. and concluded at 7:20 p.m.

The levy recommendation — described by meeting materials as the district’s proposed funding package for the coming year — would incorporate about $2,000,000 in reductions from the failed $9.52 million proposal, but trustees also agreed to add back funding for two counselor positions and district garbage service as part of the final motion that carried. The board stressed that the levy still must be approved by voters before funds can be collected or programs restored.

Why it matters: The levy affects classroom staffing, extracurricular activities, transportation and safety programs across the Lakeland District, including Lakeland High School, Lakeland Middle School and Timberlake schools. District leaders said the package is intended to reduce the district’s reliance on local property taxpayers where possible while maintaining core instructional services.

Board debate focused on which programs and positions to cut or protect. Trustees and staff repeatedly returned to extracurricular and athletics funding after one trustee noted Lakeland has more students but Timberlake’s athletic spending was higher. "The miscellaneous items were things that I couldn't quite tie to a specific sport," CFO Grantham said, explaining that state trips and travel costs — for example, teams advancing to state competitions — can drive year-to-year fluctuations in those budget lines.

Trustees discussed a range of proposed reductions that staff had placed on an initial cuts list. Staff said they had already limited some positions during the current budget process and identified additional reductions to reach the target, including reducing three building lab technicians so each remaining tech would be shared between two schools, eliminating six classified paraprofessionals through attrition where student needs allowed, and identifying salary savings from retirements.

Other contested items included library staffing at the elementary level, where staff warned cutting both lab techs and library leads would reduce teachers’ prep time: "By reducing the 3 full-time lab techs... and sharing library leads between elementary schools, we're really starting to impact the ability to make sure that our kids have access to those things and our elementary teachers have their prep time," a district staff member said.

Transportation and summer-school funding were also discussed. District staff said they cut bus routes in the current planning to save $500,000, narrowing a previously reported $1,000,000 overspend to about $500,000 the district still must cover. Staff described options to consolidate summer school sites or reduce administrative positions to bring that program to budget neutrality.

Trustees debated safety and career programs. The meeting record shows the district funds part of the KTEC (joint technical program) contribution and that those costs are not covered by state funding. One trustee urged clarity to taxpayers about the district’s contribution to KTEC and other programs that receive no state reimbursement.

Several trustees pushed for additional district-office reductions and for realigning coaching stipends. "I would love to see 3 more positions reduced at the district office," Trustee Crickley said, urging a tangible administrative contribution to the cuts. Other trustees urged caution when cutting positions that directly affect student programs and instruction.

Superintendent Arnold’s recommendation to run the levy for $7,520,000 with $2,000,000 of reductions was the basis for the final motion. Following a series of amendments and a short exchange about trustee preferences, a motion to approve the superintendent’s recommendation with two changes — restoring two counselor positions and garbage service and allowing each high school principal latitude to reduce $85,000 from their building through attrition or other means — was moved, seconded and approved.

The board also approved the draft ballot language for the levy as presented, with the changes adopted in the levy motion. Trustees emphasized that voter approval remains required before the district may collect levy revenues or implement restored positions.

The vote tally in the transcript is recorded as "motion carries" after trustees voted "aye"; the transcript does not list a block-by-block roll-call vote for the final levy motion in the public portion. Trustee Jones was absent for part of the meeting but later called in and participated by phone.

Board members and staff said the district will continue work to refine budget details and to prepare clear public materials explaining which programs and positions the levy would restore if voters approve it. The district also noted that some changes depend on state funding levels: staff estimated an offset from state funding of approximately $2.3 million this year that would reduce taxpayer liability if levies are approved.

The board adjourned following approval of the levy motion and ballot language.