Budget Recommendations by Legislature Effect Education

Kyrene adds Budget Info Page to Website

Tempe, AZ – The nation and state are facing unprecedented budget difficulties.  Today’s announcement of a legislative plan to include cuts to K-12 education this school year underscores the need for Kyrene parents, students, teachers and community members to become more informed and involved about how decisions at the legislature may impact Kyrene classrooms.

If the plans announced today take affect, Kyrene School District will need to reduce operating expenses by $1.5 million between now and the end of the budget year which is June 30, 2009.  The amount is equal, for example, to 26 teacher/administrator salary and benefit total compensation packages.  Loss of teachers typically results in increased class size.  As well, Kyrene would need to reduce $1.6 million in soft capital which are the funds that purchase instructional materials such as textbooks, copiers and software.

The Kyrene website, http://www.kyrene.org/  is designed to provide community members with important information. By clicking on BUDGET UPDATE the community can access information about the budget. In addition, on this page, there is a message from Dr. David Schauer, Superintendent of Kyrene, about how the budget may impact Kyrene schools. In addition, the website provides the current budget, legislative contact links and an “on-line” suggestion box for the district community to share its views. 

“Kyrene has already cut from 15 to 30% of unspent dollars from this year’s budget in order to reserve funds for whatever may occur,” says Schauer.  ”We are also examining programs to look for cost efficiencies.  We have been told by legislators they WANT to hear from the public to know how it feels about education budget cuts.  I implore the Kyrene community to contact their legislators to express views regarding how to fund public education.  The Kyrene strategic plan holds us accountable for the education of every child; we should demand that the legislature is held equally accountable.”

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