Polson trustees pass elementary budget
Elementary district RN Millie Nesladek voices her opinion about potential budget cuts in the nursing program
POLSON — Monday’s Polson board of educator’s meeting was one replete with surprising alliances and long-awaited conclusions.
After four meetings regarding a new budget for the elementary district, the Polson BOE came together and agreed, via a 6-1 vote, to work within the framework of a budget created by the district’s administrative team.
The suggested budget minimizes personnel cuts; rather than slashing six non-tenured teachers and eight paraprofessionals as originally suggested, the new budget non-renews one non-tenured teacher and five paras.
It makes up the rest of the half million dollar shortfall by shifting the deficit to the middle school and high school districts, which are in less dire straights and will be able to make up the money with transportation cuts.
The new recommendations appeared to be more palatable to the majority of teachers and parents present at Monday’s packed, but orderly, meeting.
“I thought it went well,” superintendent David Whitesell said following the meeting. “The board weighed through the material and received it well. They were receptive to the amount of work that it involved.”
The board was, in fact, not only receptive, but cooperative.
After trustee Bob Hanson suggested that the board take action on the proposed budget, trustee Kelly Bagnell voiced her support, a response that seemed to surprise those in attendance.
“Don’t have a heart attack,” Bagnell laughed, “but I tend to agree with you tonight, Bob.”
The board members were uniformly positive in their praise of the administrative team’s effort.
“I appreciate this work and the speed with which it was done,” said trustee Nancy Lindsey.
“This is a great list,” added board member John Laimbeer later in the meeting.
One item the board wasn’t so hot on, though: cuts to the elementary nursing program.
After hearing from a parent, concerned about the effect of the cuts on her son who suffers from severe asthma and needs a registered nurse to administer his nebulizer, the board chose to remove the nursing cuts from the budget list. Even with that item removed, the elementary district is predicted to be more than $80,000 above the deficit line.
The board has until August to officially finalize the budget and will hold their next regular board meeting, Monday, June 6.