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There are a few things we don't want to talk about at next Tuesday's public hearing on school budgets.

“There are no cuts of any arts teachers planned,” Missoula County Public Schools Superintendent Jim Clark said. “The fine arts supervisor is not under discussion. Golf, tennis and swimming are not under discussion.”

All those topics have come up in previous budget sessions, some with intense public feedback. All have been taken off the list of possible money-saving ideas, Clark said. Some, such as the fine arts supervisor job, were never formally on the list.

But MCPS still faces serious budget cuts. Plans to cut 10 high school teaching jobs and four middle school teaching positions remain in place. Another half-time position teaching kindergarten also may be cut. However, kindergarten advance enrollment is only five children behind this time last year, compared with 40 behind just a few months ago. Clark said if those enrollment numbers stay stable or grow a little, that teaching position may come back to the budget.

All three city high schools will be getting school resource officers again, after early concerns there wouldn't be enough money to cover them.

What's left to comment on is anybody's guess. A number of parents have asked the MCPS trustees to maintain small class sizes in the elementary and middle school grades. Trustees have generally supported those requests, although the staffing levels also are dependent on final enrollment numbers.

Plans also have changed regarding a proposal to create a central athletic director post and eliminate three high school deans. Clark said the high school principals are working out a new configuration that would keep athletic scheduling duties in each building and still save the necessary $125,000.

Tuesday's evening gathering combines the budget public hearing with a special board meeting and a regular session of the trustees' Finance and Operations Committee. That committee will feature a discussion of how and when to make another building reserve levy request of voters.

MCPS has lost twice in its bid to raise $10 million over 10 years for high school building and maintenance needs. The first attempt failed last November in a mail ballot. Voters turned it down again at the May 6 school election by an even greater margin.

Clark said the trustees may consider asking for a smaller amount or shorter levy period, or both. They also must decide when to put the issue on the ballot. Missoula County officials have told MCPS there probably won't be an opportunity to hold an election in July.

 

On the agenda

MCPS has three meetings in one evening Tuesday: A special board meeting at 5:30 p.m., the Finance and Operations Committee at 6 p.m. and a public budget hearing at 7 p.m. See the complete agenda for Tuesday's meetings at www.mcps.k12.mt.us.

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