Sturgis-Coldwater News

After coming through a year with many changes and adjustments due to the COVID-19 crisis, area schools are already looking toward next year and what future challenges await, including potential revenue losses.

According to reporting by the Sturgis Journal, Sturgis Public Schools Finance Director Ray Sterling told the board of trustees that general fund revenue is expected to decrease by $366,871 when he presented a budget amendment to the existing 2019-2020 fiscal year budget.

In addition, schools are also facing a projected cut in state funding for next year, according to another report in the Sturgis Journal. The estimate is that the cut could come to $700 per pupil for Centreville Schools, Centreville Public Schools Superintendent Stephanie Lemmer said during a recent meeting of the school board there.

Whether the state will cut funding is not yet known, but Lemmer said she wants to be prepared so that the school’s budget can weather any changes. She cut approximately $215,000 by not filling positions that have been vacated, but she told the board that still comes $300,000 short of her goal.

In response to a question from T.J. Reed, board vice president, Lemmer said that no staff cuts would be needed if teachers were willing to reopen contract negotiations and forego the 2% raise that the board had previously approved.

Several of the ways Lemmer presented to the board for cutting the budget included adjusting staffing, such as eliminating half of a custodial position and half of a maintenance position, or eliminating four aide positions. Other potential cuts could be made to field trips or by foregoing renewing software licenses.

The Centreville Education Association has said it will not renegotiate the contract.

Noting the compassionate nature of the district's teachers, Rod Detweiler, the board treasurer, encouraged Lemmer to revisit the subject with the union leadership and attempt to allow them to better understand the situation.