Hutchinson Public Schools will reduce its budget by $498,403 next school year.
The decision was made by the School Board Monday evening in compliance with state law that mandates a preliminary budget for the coming school year be set before the end of June.
“Any time we have enrollment changes, specifically in this case of declining enrollment, we need to make adjustment accordingly,” said Board Chair Josh Gehlen. “They’re never a fun adjustment, but they are necessary.”
The Board approved 5-0 all of the cuts proposed by administrators during its May 29 quarterly meeting.
Gehlen said the cuts were done in a way that the board hopes will have the least affect on students.
“That’s our number one priority,” he said.
Looking ahead, it’s hard to say what the future will bring. The cuts were made as the minimum necessary to keep finances in line through 2020, but the forecast until then, and after, could change based on funding.
“It’s very unpredictable. Our funding is based on what the Legislature does every two years,” Gehlen said. “Any long range plans are assumptions we make based on what we think the Legislature may or may not do. Plans change as circumstances change. We know with some certainty we can get to 2020. We need to look at operating levies that will come up around that time — one in 2021, one in 2023 — so we need to bridge the gap to that point and then make determinations.”
The cuts were reviewed in detail at the meeting last month.
“We’re trying to avoid what happened 36 years ago in this district, where we went off a cliff,” said Board Member Mike Carls said at the May 29 meeting. “This is very difficult to do. It’s very unpopular to do. But it’s necessary.”
In addition to rising costs and inflation, lower kindergarten enrollment was named as a factor, as was increased Post-Secondary Enrollment Option participation.
