Act 146 includes sections establishing specific outcomes for education and calls for a voluntary reduction in education spending in FY2012 over FY2011 of $23.2 million. WWSU also received suggested target amounts for each of the school districts within the supervisory union that, when combined together, would achieve the total target.
WWSU has not yet received a mathematical explanation from the DOE as to how these targets were determined. Supervisory unions across the state are requesting this back-up information. These targets have already been revised once and may, in fact, change again, according Superintendent Brigid Scheffert.
The WWSU executive committee met on August 11 to discuss the proposed targets and to recommend a course of action to local boards. It was decided that the WWSU will proceed by doing the following:
• Begin the budget process earlier in September as soon as the school year opens.
• Begin the budget process with a goal of reducing spending to the greatest degree possible while still maintaining high quality programs for all students.
• Attend the trainings provided by state level agencies and/or organizations so that supervisory union personnel are fully informed throughout the budgeting process.
• Seek public input and engagement throughout the budgeting process.
• Provide up-to-date information to the WWSU communities at large about the opportunities and/or consequences of the proposed budget reductions.
• Continue moving forward with the goals established last year to explore options for possible consolidation and/or reconfiguration of programs and services throughout the district to achieve efficiencies, savings and enhanced student programs.
"There are many unknowns at the present time. It is premature to indicate whether the WWSU can or will meet the recommended target reductions. We will determine this through careful, thoughtful study and deliberations. By December 15, 2010, as superintendent, I will report on behalf of each local district board and the supervisory union board to the Commissioner of Education as required by law 'whether their combined budgets will be able to meet recommended reductions,'" Scheffert added.
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