The Washington Community School Board is looking at ways to reduce the budget by a quarter of a million dollars. At this week’s meeting, the board discussed how to cut $250,000 from the budget in 10 various ways. Superintendent Dr. Mike Jorgensen said he believes the reduction can be attained with the listed items.

For example, a computer program called Success Maker was due for a software upgrade estimated at $12,000 and a hardware renewal that would cost $150,000. The overall budget reduction strategy is based on attrition, including the high school behavioral interventionist position, a custodian position, and discontinuing the extra fourth block of class at the high school.

The early retirement incentive was also discussed. No formal action was taken at the meeting regarding the budget reduction.

List of budget reduction strategies (based on attrition):
1. Use one of the floating custodian positions to fill opening due to retirement/attrition
2. Eliminate the use of Success Maker and cost of software and hardware
3. Use of the graveyard shift high school custodian to fill opening due to retirement/attrition
4. High school behavioral interventionist reduced to para position when there is employment shift through attrition or retirement
5. Discontinue allowing 4th block extra block at high school
6. Offer early retirement incentive with the goal of internal transfers and not replacing or reduced replacement of positions
7. Not replace positions if an internal option is available through transfer or assignment
8. Not replacing Public Relations position, who is retiring
9. Limit staff PD out of the district requiring substitutes to only those funded through TQ
10. Reduce overtime by at least 50%