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Monroe schools weighs options as deficit looms

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By Steven Matthews, Staff Writer 8:26 PM Friday, February 3, 2012

MONROE — In the wake of being placed in fiscal watch Thursday by the state auditor’s office, Monroe Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli said the school district is weighing its options as it moves forward.

The two main options, Lolli said, are submit another plan to the Ohio Department of Education or pass a resolution stating that the district is unable to propose a plan and request to be placed in fiscal emergency.

If Monroe is placed in fiscal emergency, a financial planning and supervision commission would be appointed to oversee the district and adopt a financial recovery plan.

Little Miami Local Schools in Warren County was placed in fiscal emergency in July 2010 and has had to borrow more than $11 million from the state. It passed a levy in November, and will eventually be released from fiscal emergency.

“At this point, we’ve made very large cuts ($2.2 million) for next school year,” Lolli said.

“I’m not certain that I can make additional cuts without terribly hurting the educational programs in the school district. At this point in time, I don’t know what that plan will look like.”

The school board approved $2.2 million in cuts in late November, and that was submitted to the ODE as part of the district’s recovery plan.

About $635,000 in cuts have been made in the past year.

Monroe — which has an annual budget of about $18 million — has a projected $4.5 million deficit by the end of this fiscal year: $3.1 million from the Bond Retirement Fund and $1.4 million in operating expenses.

The district’s five-year forecast, submitted Oct. 26, includes deficits of $1.6 million for fiscal year 2012 and $2.7 million for fiscal year 2013, the auditor’s office said. The ODE informed the auditor’s office that Monroe failed to submit an acceptable proposal to correct conditions after being put in fiscal caution Oct. 1.

Last month, Lolli announced the majority of the cuts would come from eliminating 19 positions next school year. Some busing changes make up the rest of the $2.2 million figure.

Meetings with the staff are Monday, and four community meetings are scheduled Tuesday. District administrators and school board members will be present to provide more information and answer questions.

“Hopefully we get some input from the staff and community about the district’s plan of moving forward,” board President Brett Guido said.

Thirteen teachers, three classified staff and three administrators are expected to be eliminated. General music classes in grades K-6 will be eliminated along with art classes in grades K-8. Those subjects will be taught by regular classroom teachers.

“On behalf of the (Monroe Education Association), we are saddened by this,” said Marla Bell, who represents Monroe as a labor relations consultant with the Ohio Education Association.

“We’re losing teaching positions and people are losing their livelihood, and it will have a negative impact on the students’ programs and their education.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5113 or steven.matthews@coxinc.com.

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