Flint Community Schools react to School Aid Budget

Nov 9 Robert Campbell, Media and Communications Spokesman for Flint Community Schools, answers questions about what the enacted budget means for the district.

1) What do you feel the revenue reductions mean for Flint
Community Schools?
Whenever there is a reduction on the revenue side, adjustments must be made on the expenditure side. Flint is not alone. School districts across the state are being hit hard by Michigan's school funding crisis.

2) What kind of changes may have to occur in school programs?
No decisions have been made at this point. However, everything in the budget is being scrutinized, including programs, staffing and various departments. The administration will present an amended budget to the Flint Board of Education on Dec. 2.

3) Is there any consolidation of services being planned? If so,
what?
Not at this time. But I would reiterate my previous point about everything in the budget undergoing scrutiny.

4) Do you expect serious problems with the additional $165 cut
mid-year?
Fortunately, the administration had taken some steps already to restructure the district's finances. Among the most significant changes has been in the area of health care insurance. The district has changed health-care providers, which will save the district about $3 million a year. The district's fall student count also came in a bit higher than projected -- about 400 students higher. Together, these developments should help offset most of the reductions in state revenue.

5) What long range plans do Flint Community Schools have to deal
with the funding crisis?
See answers to questions 2 and 3.

http://www.flintschools.org/