District 1 looks at school cutbacks

Despite years of trying to make do with what it had, Troy School District 1 has to face the realities of declining enrollment the same as any other district.

Enrollment has been declining consistently for 15 years, and as a result, Troy is looking at cuts of more than $100,000 for its schools. 

At Troy’s School Board meeting Feb. 11, Superintendent Dan Wendt presented a budget priority list, which detailed 17 possible items to be cut. The further down the list, the less likely the cuts.

If all 17 items were cut, Troy would sport savings of just less than $250,000. This is an extremely unlikely scenario, said School Board President John Konzen.

“It’s just a map of where we may have to go in the future,” Konzen said of the list. “But we will have to cut at least $100,000. That’s a given.”

Konzen said that a more likely number to aim for would be around $150,000, not the $250,000 the school district has listed, Without state aid, the number would be closer to $170,000.

“Being optimistic, I’d say we have to cut around $130,000,” said Wendt. “That’s assuming the state is going to help.”

The $40,000 difference between the high-and-low estimates is almost entirely dependent on state funding, specifically whether the Montana Legislature will pass Senate Bill 175.

SB175, sponsored by Conrad Republican Sen. Llew Jones, would increase state funding to public schools by $22 million, as well as increase technology funding and curriculum standards if it were to pass as it stands today.

Brady Selle, who was superintendent for eight of those declining 15 years, cautioned the school board at the meeting not to be too hasty, particularly since SB175 looked poised to pass.

“Patience pays off,” Selle said. “Especially in legislative years. For the last 15 years we’ve been able to make-do with attrition.”

 At the top of the list, already guaranteed, were the savings from combining the high school principal and superintendent position under one umbrella position. Jacob Francom, Troy’s high school principal, accepted the promotion to take over both positions at that Feb. 11 meeting. 

When Wendt resigns at the end of June, Francom will help the district save $59,500. Another $32,580 will be saved after a Troy physical-education teacher retires and the position remains empty.

This $92,080 will cover more than half of the cuts needed, but not all.

The third item was the cutting of a speech therapist from half- to third-time, a savings of $8,600. Next was incorporating a student-worker position into an existing office job. 

The largest remaining object on the probable list was the elimination of W.F. Morrison Elementary’s counselor. 

This proposed cut, perhaps more than any other, drew protests at the school board meeting. 

“The counselor needs to be way lower on the budget-cut priority,” said Matt Bowser, a Troy resident. “That’s such an important position for these kids.”

Wendt admitted the position could drop out of the reach of this round of cuts.

“I don’t see the cut of the elementary counselor happening,” he said. “People have been advocating for that position to stay.” 

Also on the chopping block is the cutting of custodial hours in the summer and student custodial help.

What everyone involved in the decision can agree on is they want to avoid going down the same road as Libby. The last thing they want is to try for a mill levy.

“I don’t believe if we were to ask the taxpayers to support a mill levy that we would be supported,” Wendt said. “We have to take care of our own house.”

“They’ve given and given and given. If everyone else had to tighten their belts, why not the schools?”

Konzen added to the “take care of your own home” mentality.

“We are trying to right ourselves,” he said.