The Strong Schools Form Our Future Committee Answers Community Questions

What cuts have been made that have reduced Parkers Prairie District expenses?  This was a key issue at the April 14th public information meeting.

Family and Consumer Science (Home Economics) was eliminated several years ago. For the 2007-2008 school year, one elementary classroom was eliminated resulting in a combination 5th and 6th grade classroom. In the coming school year, there will be a reduction in teacher salaries due to teachers in the following areas no longer being full-time employees of the district: English, Visual Arts , Industrial Arts, Spanish, and Speech Therapy.  The High School Career Counselor/Registrar position has been eliminated.  The duties of that position will be divided among administrators, a part-time registrar/secretary and teachers, who in addition to their current responsibilities will now be actively guiding course decisions and scheduling. Additionally there is a plan in place to reduce two to three paraprofessional (teachers’ aid) positions. When compared to the twenty other districts in the state with enrollments of 500 to 600 students, dollars spent for Parkers Prairie administration and teachers is slightly below average.

Even with these cuts in place, the school district still has a deficit balance for the 2008-2009 school year budget.  Any additional cuts would involve the elimination of entire programs and/or extracurricular activities.

Some may say, so why not cut extracurricular activities?  First, less than 3% of the entire school budget is for extracurricular activities, but over 70% of the students participate in extracurricular activities.  For decades, studies have shown that students who participate in extracurricular activities perform better in school academically and generally have more successful career paths in their future. Second, the community impact of having the opportunity to attend school sporting events, concerts, or plays is a tremendous asset to individuals who live in the Parkers Prairie area. These activities and events help to give us the sense of community that we have. Third, while cutting a program like football could save the district $14,000, losing just one open enrolled family of three because there is no football program, would cost the district $17,000 in lost student state aid. Thus, cutting football would actually have a negative impact on the budget.  

In the end, cuts will create more problems than they will solve.