Draft budget online

The school district posted an update on its budget process sometime over the weekend; here's the link:

Budget update June 19

The draft budget is also finally available online. The link is also on the blog's side panel under school district documents,

Draft budget

The district continues to say it needs to keep reserves high because who knows what will happen next year. And officials insist on closing an elementary school.

Again, if they could dip into reserves every other year to pay for non-essential programs, why can't the district use reserves this year to keep its schools open? Reserves would still be higher than needed, at 4 percent, instead of 4.4 percent.

Their decision equates to a person who's home is being foreclosed on, making sure to keep a high balance in their savings account because they might need it next year.

The district needs to use the savings account now. Be responsible: Keep your schools open.

And if you insist on closing a school, please inform the public how you plan to stuff two student bodies into one school that is meant to house only 280 students!