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District leaders outline $3.2 million in reductions; staffing cuts, fees and program trims proposed
Summary
Superintendent and the leadership team presented budget adjustment recommendations that would reduce roughly $3.2 million over two years, including position cuts, changes to nursing coverage, reductions in extracurricular support and proposed fee increases; the board will consider action at a special meeting next week.
District leaders told the Byron Public School District board that they have already made about $1.6 million in reductions this year and are recommending an additional roughly $1.6 million for next year, producing about $3.2 million in reductions over two years to balance the budget.
The superintendent outlined staffing recommendations (position-based at this stage) that include roughly 12 teaching-position recommendations by area, with proposed reductions impacting seven K–5 positions, one middle-school position and four high-school positions. The district is recommending adjustments to counseling staff (reducing high school counselors from three to two), moving from two licensed school nurses to one licensed school nurse supported by two health aides, converting some paraprofessional positions to special-education coding to capture state subsidy, and shifting administrative roles (moving an assistant principal/AD assignment and creating a dean/literacy lead at K–5 on a teacher contract).
Leaders emphasized efforts to minimize student impact: not eliminating entire programs but reducing sections, consolidating specialists, and pursuing revenue options. Proposed revenue changes included raising fees for open-enrollment rural busing (proposed $500 per student or $800 per family), creating a $50 K–8 activity pass option, raising adult activity passes from $95 to $115, increasing MA (medical assistance) billing for nursing services, and pursuing an additional lease/levy for the district gymnastics center; combined revenue changes were presented as roughly $107,000.
The superintendent said staffing moves and cuts were recommended after leadership review, advisory input and statutory limits (special education obligations and contract language) and stressed that names would be connected to positions at a later meeting; board members pressed for building-level impacts, additional details on health staffing workload, and the financial tradeoffs of increased fees versus cutting programming.
Board members acknowledged the cuts are “painful” and asked administration to provide more detailed, building-by-building impacts and the attorney guidance and scheduling for next steps. The board will receive the final recommendation and take action at the special meeting scheduled for next Monday.
