Novi Schools outline proposed cuts, revenue enhancements for 07-08
  

Slowing community growth, coupled with "insufficient" state funding, will likely mean belt-tightening for the Novi Community Schools starting this fall, reports Superintendent Peter Dion.

While other Michigan school districts have had to make budgetary changes in the past few years, Novi has been spared until now due to previously increasing enrollment and overall community growth. Since school revenue is based on the number of students and the tax base - both of which had been continually increasing in Novi for many years - it's the first time Novi's schools have had to look hard at the bottom-line.

Dion explains, "Novi Schools must make severe reductions for the 2007-08 school year for two reasons: First, our student enrollment, while still going up, is not increasing as quickly as it once did. Since state funding is based on student enrollment, a slower increase means fewer dollars coming into the district. Second, state funding of schools over the last five years has simply been insufficient to keep up with the increasing costs of doing business, which means that we’ve had to tighten our belts in each successive year."

Novi Community Schools Administration has come up with a plan to balance the school budget that includes cuts in staff, reduced expenditures, and some cost increases for fee-based activities.

The plan as outlined by school administration is as follows.

Proposed reductions include:

• 6 High School teachers

• 0.3 Middle School teacher

• 7 Elementary teachers

• 5.5 Special Education teachers

• 3 Psychologists

• 1 Speech and Language teacher

• 3 Elementary Spanish teachers

• 2 Literacy Specialist teachers

• 5.5 Paraprofessionals (including special ed. & technology)

• 13 Custodians

• 1 Mail Courier

• 1 Data Manager

• 4 Summer maintenance workers

• 2.2 Administrators

• 0.9 Mechanic

• 2 High School/Middle School hall monitors

• 1 Communication Coordinator

• 0.5 Athletic Secretary

• 5 School Busses

In addition, it is proposed that reductions will be made to:

• Co-op workers

• Teacher training (professional development) substitutes

• Counseling weeks at High School

• Part-time Secretaries

• Summer technology work

• District software purchases

Proposed revenue enhancements include:

• Institute “Pay to Participate” for High School Athletics & High School Extracurricular Activities

• Increase Community Education fees

• Increase 5th Grade Camp & High School Parking Fees

• Reduce the Food Service Fund Equity

State Senator Nancy Cassis and State Representative Craig DeRoche are expected to be on-hand Thursday, May 24th in Lansing to discuss school funding issues with school administration, and to speak with parents.

The Novi Community Schools Board of Education is expected to discuss these proposed cuts and revenue enhancements at the June 28th board meeting.