Geneva forum Saturday to talk about school budget

The Geneva school board says it wants to hear your opinion about things it might eliminate in its 2010-11 education fund budget.

A forum is set for 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Geneva Middle School South, 1415 Viking Drive.

The board will vote on recommendations, presented by administrators, at its regular meeting Monday night.

School officials are projecting the district will spend $1.3 million more than it takes in in the education fund. They are assuming the state will cut 50 percent of the categorical aid the district normally receives.

Administrators have proposed:

• Cutting the hours of the district's communications coordinator;

• Combining clubs for the two middle schools;

• Cutting seven special education assistant positions, two school secretaries, six elementary library assistants, the equivalent of 4.5 teachers, and the middle school police liaison officer;

• Eliminating the coordinator of acceleration and enrichment.

Categorical state aid goes to programs such as reduced-price lunches for the poor, programs for gifted and bilingual students, early childhood education, textbooks and technology.

The figures were presented at the Feb. 22 school board meeting, and are available at geneva304.org. Additional information is scheduled to be posted Friday afternoon.

Presentations for other funds in the 2010-11 budget will continue throughout the spring. The budget year begins July 1, and the budget must be adopted by Sept. 30.