{"id":48205,"date":"2021-03-04T17:27:59","date_gmt":"2021-03-05T00:27:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/bayfield-school-district-facing-1-million-deficit-plans-layoffs\/"},"modified":"2021-03-05T00:27:59","modified_gmt":"2021-03-05T00:27:59","slug":"bayfield-school-district-facing-1-million-deficit-plans-layoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/bayfield-school-district-facing-1-million-deficit-plans-layoffs\/","title":{"rendered":"Bayfield School District, facing $1 million deficit, plans layoffs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"The
The Bayfield School District plans to cut the equivalent of at least 10 full-time positions to balance its budget.<\/span>Shannon Mullane\/Durango Herald file<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

The Bayfield School District expects to cut the equivalent of at least 10 full-time positions in response to a $1 million budget shortfall.<\/p>\n

The school district\u2019s finances took a hit in 2020 after statewide budget cuts prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. The district drew from its reserves to address the shortfall in 2020, but district leaders decided against relying on reserves for the 2021-22 fiscal year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe knew we were going to have to make some cuts because we could no longer continue to deficit-spend at almost a million dollars,\u201d said Kevin Aten, Bayfield superintendent.<\/p>\n

Laid-off employees will complete their current contract but will not have that contract renewed for the 2021-22 academic year, Aten said.<\/p>\n

The layoffs will be organizationwide, including maintenance employees, paraprofessionals and some teachers. Several people have already been notified, but the district has not made the final decision about all potential layoffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis depends on the state of Colorado,\u201d said Mike Foutz, school board president. \u201cThey\u2019ve got to hit their timeline of giving us the budget update sometime in March. That would probably finalize things.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bayfield personnel cuts were calculated assuming there will be no change in the state budget, Aten said. The district will adjust its plans if necessary depending on an updated state budget projection expected to arrive mid-March.<\/p>\n

\"Aten\"
Aten<\/span>du1-i-syn<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cRight now, we\u2019re operating in a situation where, if funding is flat, we can balance our budget through cuts and moderate use of reserves,\u201d Aten said.<\/p>\n

The district anticipates ending this fiscal year with about $5 million to $5.2 million in its reserves. It needs to keep about $4 million at minimum in its reserves, particularly to handle fluctuations in the amount of tax-based income received by the district during the year.<\/p>\n

The district is not imposing a wage freeze in the next fiscal year, so step raises and percentage raises will still be possible, Aten said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are we eliminating positions in the school district and not putting in a wage freeze?\u201d said Matthew Turner, a Bayfield community member, during a school board meeting Feb. 23.<\/p>\n

He expressed concern that the first layoff was the bus mechanic, which he said would have implications for bus inspections and maintenance. Turner also called on Aten to resign during the meeting.<\/p>\n

The budget committee aimed to \u201ctake care of the people you have,\u201d Aten said, even if it meant cutting more positions.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, if we trim some positions, people are going to be working even harder,\u201d Aten said. \u201cFor them to actually take home less money was not going to feel good.\u201d<\/p>\n

The district also cut $100,000 from curriculum expenses and $50,000 in program expenses.<\/p>\n

About 80% to 85% of the district\u2019s costs are salaries, Foutz said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we\u2019re looking at trying to fix a million dollar budget problem, we\u2019ll hit those other (expense) areas from the extent that we can,\u201d he said. \u201cBut you can\u2019t get it all from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Turner also said the district should draw more revenue from the old middle school building south of downtown by charging rent to organizations using the space.<\/p>\n

The building is home to organizations and nonprofits, including Pueblo Community College, The Community Treehouse and Pediatric Partners of the Southwest. The nonprofit Pine River Shares already pays rent.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose aren\u2019t going to solve our million dollar budget crisis,\u201d Aten said. \u201cWe feel really strongly all those organizations are doing something to build community in the town of Bayfield.\u201d<\/p>\n

smullane@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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