Fewer field trips, no fifth grade band, no clubs for grades six through eight, no sports for grades six through nine, and fewer students traveling to out of town competitions will all be results of $1.8 million in cuts approved by the Unit Five School Board last night for the 2023/24 school year.
40 people spoke during public comment against proposed cuts.
“I want to save ninth grade sports and Junior High activites,” said Abby Scott. “I want to save elementary music, art and PE.”
“Extra curriculars, athletic activities and field trips are among the main examples of Unit Five’s enriched educational programming,” said school board candidate Mark Adams. “These are our future athletes, musicians, artists, leaders.”
Unit Five Considering Eliminating All Junior High Extra Curriculars
Cuts are necessary because the referendum the district put on the ballot to raise the tax levy for the education fund in November failed. Now it is time to budget for the 2022/23 school year. And it wouldn’t be prudent to assume the referendum which has since been put on the April ballot will pass this spring.
In addition to that, if the referendum fails this spring, then it can not be put on the ballot again until November 2024. Therefore the board is looking at cuts for the 2024/25 school year as well. And it is the planning for that year that half of those speaking during public comment wanted to talk about. Planning for 2024/25 includes closing Carlock Elementary School.
Rhonda Baer, Mayor of Carlock, spoke in favor of keeping Carlock Elementary open.
“We understand the struggles that you have overseeing the care and the expenditures of the taxpayer dollars, ” Baer said. “As a board that oversees taxpayer dollars we are pushing up our sleeves and getting dirty and doing the work to make change in our community not only to keep Carlock viable but to keep the school viable. I am inviting you to meet us and work with us to do that.”
The board took action on and approved the cuts proposed for 2023/24 because those cuts needed to be voted on last night to keep budget planning for 2023/24 on schedule.
The board did not take any action on the cuts proposed for 2024/25 because it isn’t necessary at this time. But the decision needs to be made soon. Closing a school and relocating students and teachers is more than a one year process.
On this matter the board does have the luxury of waiting to see if the tax referendum passes in the spring. However it can’t sit around doing nothing. Should the referendum fail a second time, then the board must be in a position to move on the closing of Carlock in May or June at the latest.
In addition to making cuts the board is looking at raising fees which would increase revenue by $600,000.