Metro-area school districts expect hundreds of job cuts under proposed state budgets

Metro area school districts would have to make anywhere from $135.7 million to $222.5 million in program and staffing cuts next school year under two competing budget proposals in the Legislature.

That's according to a survey of 32 school districts released Wednesday by the Association of Metropolitan School Districts.

The districts estimate they will need to cut $135.7 million under the House education plan, which calls for flat funding and delaying state aid payments to schools. About 824 employees would lose their jobs.

They estimate they would need to cut $222.5 million under the Senate plan, which calls for a 3.2 percent reduction in spending on schools. About 1,275 employees would lose their jobs.

"Significant layoffs will have to be implemented under either scenario," said Scott Croonquist, the association's executive director.

The estimates take into account stimulus money districts will receive from the federal government for low-income and special-needs students.

The final funding scenario for K-12 schools is far from set. The House and Senate need to come together to work out a compromise bill to send to Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Pawlenty may not like what the Legislature sends him. He proposed increasing spending on schools by $192 million over two years, or about 2 percent, for specific programs like pay for performance for teachers. Like the House plan, his plan includes accounting shifts.

School officials and education advocates are Metro area school districts would have to make anywhere from $135.7 million to $222.5 million in program and staffing cuts next school year under two competing budget proposals in the Legislature.

That's according to a survey of 32 school districts released Wednesday by the Association of Metropolitan School Districts.

The districts estimate they will need to cut $135.7 million under the House education plan, which calls for flat funding and delaying state aid payments to schools. About 824 employees would lose their jobs.

They estimate they would need to cut $222.5 million under the Senate plan, which calls for a 3.2 percent reduction in spending on schools. About 1,275 employees would lose their jobs.

"Significant layoffs will have to be implemented under either scenario," said Scott Croonquist, the association's executive director.

The estimates take into account stimulus money districts will receive from the federal government for low-income and special-needs students.

The final funding scenario for K-12 schools is far from set. The House and Senate need to come together to work out a compromise bill to send to Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Pawlenty may not like what the Legislature sends him. He proposed increasing spending on schools by $192 million over two years, or about 2 percent, for specific programs like pay for performance for teachers. Like the House plan, his plan includes accounting shifts.

School officials and education advocates are finding themselves in an unusual situation — preferring the governor's plan to the two outlined by the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate.

"The governor has the best proposal on the table right now, absolutely," Croonquist said.

Anoka-Hennepin already reduced its budget by about $16 million for next school year, said Superintendent Dennis Carlson, and cut 160 full-time staff positions. If the Senate plan prevails, it would have to slice another $14 million.

And it could get worse in 2010-11. Carlson estimates Anoka-Hennepin would have to slash up to $50 million from that year's budget if lawmakers adopt the Senate's cuts and the district does not renew an operating levy set to expire.

"Now you're talking about drastically changing the way you do education," Carlson said.

Megan Boldt can be reached at 651-228-5495.