Budget cuts not set in stone

Photo: File photo

There are concern among some parents of local school children about upcoming cuts to the District 22 budget.

There are concern among some parents of local school children about upcoming cuts to the District 22 budget, but officials are still reviewing what those cuts will be.

Some parents have sounded the alarm that the district will make changes to the busing system in an effort to make up a $420,000 shortfall, but board chairperson Kelly Smith said no decisions have been made.

Smith said changes to the busing system was just one of several suggestions ob a budget adjustment plan that was sent out for public input and on Wednesday the board will look at the public input before making any decisions at their monthly board meeting.

Smith said the budget will not be passed on Wednesday, but it will receive first and second reading, with the budget being finalized at the May meeting.

Smith said the public input is being organized and sent out to the board.

“This is something the board has not yet discussed at the board table,” said Smith, adding changes to busing is on the budget adjustment plan but it is only a suggestion.

“The plan has things on it that may go ahead or may not go ahead. We sent it out to the public to see what is important to them and we are definitely getting some pretty clear messages.”

Smith said the suggestions are “all over the map. I really appreciate when they bring their stories to the table and we can listen to how any change affects families. Some things won't go ahead and others will.”

Smith said the nice thing about the budget this year is the cuts are not in the millions.

“For 15 years we had to make huge cuts,” she said. “The last couple of years, our student enrolment has increased which means we have more money to put back in the system.”