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Ironwood - January 26, 2010
Shrinking state funding and
dwindling student counts has created a sense of urgency at the Ironwood
Area School Board. The Student count was down another 15 students last
month, The difference in the size of this year’s graduating class and
next year’s kindergarten class is a minus 30 students. The expected
school population could be below 900 students. The state has
indicated that it will provide that approximately 200 dollars less per
student and the blended enrollment numbers are on the short side of the
formula. The numbers seem to point towards a significant revenue
shortfall.
Sensing the urgency of the situation, the board
is hoping to conclude their budget for the coming school year as soon as
possible. In fact, it has been suggested that the board prepare a two
year budget. One has to wonder, does the board finally understand
what the loss of Superintendent Rayner means to the district? What’s
that they say about cutting off your nose to spite your face?
The
district is still looking for a replacement for Jim Rayner. They have
asked the assistance of the MASB to help locate applicants to fill the
vacancy that will occur with the departure of Jim Rayner. It was stated
that the MASB will post the opening in the early days of February and
will be submitting applications to the IASD by late February.
A
representative from the Michigan Association of School Boards will be in
Ironwood shortly to interview the school board and the school staff.
Two weeks ago the school board voted to go outside the district to
search for its next superintendent. The last time the district had a
home grown super, the district wound up with a 490,000 dollar deficit.
It took Rayner an outsider just a few years to clean up that deficit.
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