CCUSD
prepares May override vote
by
Kathleen Stinson
CCUSD
– Cave Creek Unified School District is holding an election
this spring to renew a budget override.
District
Associate Superintendent Dr. Kent Frison said at the last
board meeting that the 2006‑2007 override proposed
budget would be $886,839, if approved.
The
override renewal election will be held on Tuesday, May
15. The district is asking voters to approve an override
by 10 percent of the revenue control limit. The additional
funds will predominantly pay for salaries and supplies,
according to Nedda Shafir, district spokeswoman.
If
the override is approved, the district’s budget will remain
at status quo, Shafir said. If the override fails, the
district will have to reduce its budget by one third each
year for the next three years. Approval would not raise
taxes, she said.
The
2006‑2007 proposed district budget calls for $641,838.50
in salaries and $161,229.94 in benefits.
“This
would pay for 11.5 full‑time kindergarten teachers,
4.68 full‑time teacher’s aides, and five full‑time
instructional coaches,” Frison said.
The
budget also calls for $62,828 in professional development
and another $20,942.56 in substitute teachers for kindergarten
through third grade. Also included from the capital budget
is $15,229 for school supplies and text books.
In
2002, voters approved a maintenance and operations budget
override of 10 percent.
“Has
it reduced sizes in classes across the Cave Creek district?”
asked board member Susan Clancy, referring to past elections.
After
debate, the board generally acknowledged the language
of the former election only stated the money could be
used on reducing class sizes in kindergarten through grade
three.
Frison
also reported to the board ways the district could save
money if voters do not approve an override renewal.
“I
could save you $100,000 on boys’ sports, but that wouldn’t
be very popular,” Frison commented.
Linda
Garvin, president of the Cave Creek Educational Association,
said, while she expects the override to pass, she asked
the board not to save money by laying off teachers.
