The North Platte Public Schools Board of Education and administration will have a tough challenge after announcing they will be forced to cut $2,000,000 from the 2021-2022 budget.
According to an NPPSD document, the district is dedicated to providing the highest quality education to each North Platte student from pre-K through grade 12. Officials say it is essential to involve the ideas of both school personnel and community constituency. The NPPS District will be challenged to reduce the 2021 - 2022 budget by $2 million.
The Board of Education will be discussing this topic on January 11, 2021, at the Board of Education meeting.
An informational Zoom meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, January 7 @ 6:00 p.m., hosted by NPPS Administrators. This meeting will be an informational meeting for parents of Osgood and Lake students and an opportunity to answer any questions.
Please note: In the interest of time, the Zoom meeting on January 7 is for parents of students attending Lake and Osgood Schools.
Parents are always welcome to attend Board meetings. Officials ask that attendees follow all safety guidelines. Personnel will be available to assist with the following safety protocols, maintaining social distancing, and ensuring the proper use of face coverings. We have several rooms available for viewing the Board meeting. During public comment time, personnel will be available to help direct you to speak to the Board in a safe environment.
Board of Education Budget Reduction Options:
Option #1: Merge Lake/Osgood Elementary into the remaining elementary schools. Cost savings would equal approximately $1.3 million. The remaining balance would come out of Cash Reserves in the amount of $700,000.
Option #2: Use 100% Cash Reserves in the amount $2.0 million. Caution, this will put the district in an ‘at-risk’ financial position in future years.
Option #3: Merge 2020-21 Kindergarten class (current) at Osgood and the 2021-22 Kindergarten class for the 2021-22 school year. Maintain the grades 2,3,4,5 at Lake, reduce administration to .5 FTE
Approximate savings = $300,000-400,000 + $1.7million Cash Reserves
Option #4: 2021-22 - - Merge 2020-21 Kindergarten class (current) at Osgood and the 2021-22 Kindergarten class for the 2021-22 school year. Maintain the grades 2,3,4,5 at Lake, reduce administration to .5 FTE
Approximate savings = $300,000-400,000 + $1.7million Cash Reserves
2022-23 - - merge all grade levels (2-5) in 2022-23 = *$1.0 million
*Replenish the Cash Reserve $1.0 million
Option #5: Madison MS - Adams MS merger
research cost savings and space availability
44 classrooms @ 25 students a room = 1100
Current enrollment at Adams: 586 and Madison is 308 for a total of 894.
Adams/Madison Bus Route Cost: 35,250+23,501= $58,781
Limited cost-saving for personnel as one still needs the same number of staff, just a different location. There would be savings on transportation and utilities.
Option #6: Analyze overall personnel reductions if we do not merge any schools. How many Reduction in Force actions would be necessary to reduce the overall cost?
approximately 25 positions $2 million / $80,000 = 25
approximately 17 positions $1.3 million / $80,000 = 16.25
approximately 13 positions $1 million / $80,000 = 12.5
*The district has been using attrition for the last three years due to the decline in student enrollment. Rather than RIF staff members in the last few years, the District absorbed many elementary teaching positions following the class size guidelines established by the Board
Option #7: TBD
Option #8: TBD
Tentative timeline:
January 7, 2021, BoE Finance Subcommittee Meeting
January 7, 2021 Meeting with Lake/Osgood Families via Zoom Webinar - NPPS Administration @ 6:00 p.m.
January 11, 2021 Board of Education Meeting
January 12-29, 2021 Meeting with Lake/Osgood Families . . . Zoom Webinar. . . TBD
February 2, 2021, BoE Personnel, Curriculum Subcommittee Meeting
February 4, 2021, BoE Finance Subcommittee Meeting
February 8, 2021 Board of Education Meeting
Please submit your ideas HERE