Ronan schools plan ahead

RONAN — The Ronan board of educators talked long-term during budget discussions at their regular board meeting last Tuesday.

According to superintendent Andy Holmlund, the board accepted the administration’s suggestion to cut $360,000 out of their general fund; a move he described as “a belt tightening measure to maintain our reserve.”

Holmlund said that the majority of that sum was made up through attrition, or absorbing the positions of retiring faculty. He added that no programs were cut, but the positions of 1.5 non-tenured teachers were not renewed.

In contrast to several other local districts, Ronan did not face the pressure of making unpopular cuts to account for a shortfall.

Being a step ahead is a status that Holmlund would like to maintain.

“[The budget cut] allows us to be ahead of the curve,” Holmlund said. “It mitigates going through the reserves at too rapid a rate.”

The superintendent added that the budget seemed to be well accepted by the board and attendees, and that there was little public comment at the meeting.

And as for the number of students in each class — that tricky figure that has threatened to balloon above accreditation standards in several other districts forced to make cuts — Holmlund isn’t worried.

“Our class sizes will be maintained. We’re well within accreditation.”

The next regularly scheduled Ronan BOE meeting will take place June 6 at 7 p.m.