One area of concern is a proposal to cut the number of media center staff, or librarians, at the middle schools and Columbia High School in half, from four to two.
"I don't think this was the most thoughtful, considerate cut," said Board Student Representative Nina Kambili. "I would love to see more consideration of how that is going to be handled."
Among those who spoke was a parent who works in a school library in another district:
Board President Elizabeth Baker said the issue of media centers and libraries would be reviewed at the committee level this coming week.
"We understand that none of those proposals are made lightly," Baker said. "I'd like to make the issue of library media services an agenda item as well as a discussion of the other curricular impacts, with respect to the interventionists."
The entire staff cut list can be seen HERE.
Those cuts are being done as enrollment is expected to jump in the district, from 6,880 this year to 6,939 next year, according to Business Administrator Cheryl Schneider, who presented the latest budget.
Schneider, who revealed the need for such dramatic cuts two weeks ago, updated the latest budget proposal Monday night that would increase the tax-generated budget from $109.1 million for the current year to $111.3 million for the 2016-2017 budget.
Overall revenue is also expected to increase from $123 million to $125 million, she said. Right now, it would result in a 2.06% tax increase, which would hit the average Maplewood property owner with a $165 tax increase per year.
The board may increase the budget further above the 2% state tax hike cap by another $406,000 in so-called "banked cap," which allows the district to increase the tax rate by the same amount that it was below the cap in past years. If that is added, the average tax increase in Maplewood would be $180.
"We're running out of room for efficiencies," Schneider said. "We are going into the classroom."
Several board members objected to the planned cuts and asked Superintendent John Ramos to review it once again before the board gives final consideration on March 21.
"I do not believe that those cuts are viable cuts for the district," said Board Member Madhu Pai, referring to elementary schools. "Dr. Ramos, you need to blow up the budget process to see how we can increase revenue, and not on the backs of taxpayers. I do not believe those elementary cuts are acceptable cuts."
Although state aid had increased from $4.21 million to $4.30 million, the portion for special education had actually declined, from $3.63 million to $3.58 million.
"There is no specific reason as to why the special ed. went down," Schneider said.
Ramos said he understood why the cuts are a concern, stating, "Nobody here is suggesting any of the reductions are a good idea." He added that if any funding can be added back to the budget it should be done to help return interventionist specialists to Seth Boyden School.
"As Seth Boyden goes so goes the district in many respects," Ramos said. "We do need to reinforce resources in that building."
The next board meeting is set for Monday, March 21.
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