ISD 194 Warns of Draconian Cuts if Levy Fails

This is the first in a series of articles looking at November’s upcoming levy referendums.

Independent School District 194, which serves Lakeville, southern Burnsville and Elko, warns that severe budget cuts will be necessary if the three levy referendums on the ballot this November fail.

Failure of the first two questions on the ballot would require “a combination of reductions in programs, staff and services and increases in some fee areas that represent a $7.1 million adjustment to the 2008-09 school district budget,” the district said in a statement.

The district would eliminate grade-five band, fall and spring intramural activities at both high schools and both schools’ competition cheerleading programs.  It would also be forced to eliminate 21.7 classroom teachers, leading to a teacher-to-pupil ratio of one to 27 in kindergarten, one to 31 in grades two and three and 1 to 35 in grades four and five.

The district would also eliminate 16.5 middle school and 17.1 high school teachers, and roughly two dozen media specialists, counselors, gifted specialists and administrators.

Additionally, the district would increase student parking fees, raise participation fees in high school athletics by over 50 percent and eliminate busing for students who live within a two-mile walk from their elementary school, up from four-fifths of a mile today.

The district says that if all three questions pass, a $300,000 home would see a total first year tax increase of $283.

Lakeville is just one of several districts seeking increased funding this year.  Sixteen school districts throughout the state are seeking additional funding this fall, including two of the districts that border Lakeville, District 191 (Burnsville-Eagan-Savage) and District 721 (New Prague).