Swan River School prepares for projected $30,000 budget decrease

Swan River School’s preliminary budget shows a $30,000 decrease in funding for fiscal year 2013-14. But, SRS Principal Marc Bunker said the preliminary budget “seems manageable.”

“I was concerned at first, but I’m feeling better about it,” Bunker said.

Bunker also said the difference in funding between this year and next year could actually be larger once increased insurance costs and training for faculty are factored in.

The overall preliminary budget for the upcoming year is $912,413.57.

The decrease in funding is due to a decline in enrollment by six students. Montana school districts report the number of students enrolled in October and February to the Office of Public Instruction, which directly impacts their funding.

From those counts, the “Average Number Belonging” is calculated. The ANB is then used to calculate the per-student entitlement and special education funding that, together with the basic entitlement, makes up the minimum and maximum general fund budget levels for the following school year.

During his report to the board of trustees at last Tuesday’s board meeting, Bunker said there were three options for addressing concerns about students who are not successfully learning.

The first option is to invest more time in school, such as having classes on Saturdays and summer school. The second option is to hire additional faculty.

“Obviously, in light of the budget, neither are for us,” Bunker said.

This is why Bunker proposed a third option: investing in current staff with additional training to address how they are instructing. The goal with this option is to help both struggling students and to encourage the ones who are already doing well to keep improving.

Bunker and the trustees discussed what this would entail. Possible routes included using early dismissal days or time before school every couple of weeks for training sessions.

“It’s going to make for better teachers and better student learning,” Bunker said. “The staff seem on board for it and willing to learn and grow, so I am excited.”

In other SRS news, the board of trustees has three seats up for election this spring. Interested candidates who live in the SRS district can apply by picking up forms at the school’s main office.