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OGDEN, Utah (AP) -- Ogden School District administrators are working on a list of proposed budget cuts such as delaying health insurance startup dates and modifying some job descriptions.
The suggestions have been developed by a cost-reduction committee of school administrators, PTA members, teachers, staff and employee association representatives.
The proposal was discussed during a board work session last week and is still being revised. No information is available yet on how much money the district is hoping to save or how much the proposed cuts would reduce the budget.
The Ogden district is experiencing a budget crunch because enrollment has decreased by 138 students, from 12,062 last year to 11,924 this school year. School districts receive funding from the state based on weighted pupil unit.
The district is also pinched by rising costs in other areas, such as health insurance.
"We have to make it balance. These are hard conversations," said Superintendent Cathy Ortega.
Some of the cost-cutting ideas have brought strong reactions from board members and district employees.
"They've got to make cuts somewhere, but we don't want it to affect teaching or education. We are concerned and very worried," said Bonnie Darlington, president of the Ogden Education Association, the district's teachers' organization.
The district could implement a 90-day start date on its health benefits. Currently, new employees begin their benefits within 30 days.
"We need to find areas that will do the least amount of damage," said Marshal Garrett, district executive director of human resources.
However, board member Kit Dimick said that would be deterrent in attracting teachers.
Another budget cut idea includes changing the job status of computer lab monitors at each school so the employee would be over several schools instead of just one. Teachers could learn how to do the computer work themselves to fill in the gaps.
"Teachers would have to be tech-savvy," said Reed Spencer, district executive director of curriculum and assessment.
However, Darlington said, "You can't put all the teachers through computer training."
Another proposed cut would end a program that allowed teachers to instruct a class during their prep hour for additional salary.
Putting classified employees onto a monthly paycheck instead of being paid biweekly is another suggestion. It would save funding through payroll personnel costs.
However, Dave Shaw, president of the Ogden Classified Employee Association, says some employees don't like the idea of budgeting for one paycheck a month, and he doubts classified employees would accept this in negotiations.
Previously mentioned budget-cutting suggestions have included close some schools. Central Middle School, Mountain View Elementary, Edison Elementary and Lewis Elementary are scheduled to close in 2007.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
