By Lori Ehde
The axe fell on Luverne's first round of budget cuts during the School Board's regular meeting Thursday, April 26.
The new all day every day kindergarten program survived the cuts but not without other significant cuts at the elementary level.
The most controversial casualty at this point is the visual arts program.
Elementary Art Specialist Cloyce Smith will no longer work with grades K-5 in special art sessions, since her position was eliminated Thursday.
Students will still have access to art, but it will be offered at the discretion of regular classroom teachers.
Board member Becky Walgrave made the motion to approve $329,000 worth of cuts, and board member Cary Radisewitz seconded the motion.
At that point, the meeting was opened to attendees for comment.
Several art supporters spoke against cutting Smith's position, including Smith herself.
"Nobody comes into our classrooms to see what we're doing," Smith said, so she brought samples of work the students have done.
In addition to other projects, she showed the board a first-grader's experience with Pablo Picasso, a second-grader's example of Vincent Van Gogh, a third-grader's Georgia O'Keefe, a fourth-grader's work in the style of Grant Wood, and a fifth-grader's mastery of Claude Monet.
"If you cut the arts, this is what you're cutting," she said, adding that it would be a big step backward for the district.
"We finally got it up to where all the kids are getting art, but if you make these cuts, that's not teaching to excellence, that's hurting the kids."
Luverne artist Jerry Deuschle also spoke against the cuts.
"Being an art supporter in the community, I was elated with the new elementary art program and set-up," he said. "Now I feel the wind has been taken out of my sails when I see the elementary cuts proposed."
After taking comments from attendees, board chair Don Bryan asked board members if there was any more discussion and called the vote.
The motion passed unanimously to approve the cuts.
On the heels of that decision, the board took action on the specific positions related to the cuts:
oThey accepted the resignation of first-grade teacher Dixie Arends, who is retiring.
oThey discontinued the services of part-time middle-high school morning nurse Sharon Bonnema.
oThey did not renew the teaching contract of part-time elementary physical education teacher Bruce Gluf.
oThey placed the following staff on unrequested leave of absence:
Elementary technology teacher Michelle Johnson was reduced by half time
Music teacher Patty Nelson was reduced by approximately one period per day.
High school life sciences teacher Debra Vogt was reduced by about one-third time.
When asked if any of these positions would be reinstated in the event that the Legislature would come through with adequate funding, Superintendent Vince Schaefer qualified his response.
"It is a possibility, but that's a real iffy one," he said. "The intention of the cuts at this stage is to balance the budget."
Luverne School DistrictÕs expenses this year exceeded revenues by $450,000. Thursday's cuts put the district $329,000 closer to balancing the budget.
Now, Schaefer said the board is considering additional cuts, possibly activities or administrative streamlining to get closer to the goal.
Schaefer said other districts are trimming budgets with the expectation of decreased funding from the state.
But if Luverne doesn't balance its budget, and if the state allocates less funding, Schaefer said the financial situation for Luverne could be twice as bad next year.
"Which makes our situation a little more concrete," he said. "If you're $450,000 deficit spending this year, and they don't fund you at a reasonable rate, you have to trim, which is what we're doing."