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The district had a June 30 deadline to approve the budget and has discussed cuts to balance it at the last several meetings. The approved budget will take effect July 1.

Trustee Dale Brinker was absent from the meeting.

In the end, the board voted to use approximately $527,000 in fund equity while making budget amendments and squeezing more savings throughout the year with a 5-1 vote with Trustee Kevin McCrory dissenting.

Director of Finance Cheryl Bruff said the district looked at every area of the budget with a fine-tooth comb to make more than $500,000 in cuts to balance it without impacting personnel.

The cuts the board approved which will go into effect this fall include: Supplies $38,000, phone service $12,000, one less edition of the district's newsletter $5,000, reduction of conferences $20,000, reduction of technology licensing $45,000, reduction in the library budget $8,000, teacher attrition including elimination of the assistant principal position at Ruth Fox Elementary School and special education position $180,000, and teacher attrition $185,000.

Bruff noted the good news for the district was it did not eliminate any personnel positions.

"We eliminated four paraprofessional positions, but don't see anyone getting laid off," Bruff said. "Now we have four vacant positions." Those holding the paraprofessionals positions will be given other positions in the district.

District officials discussed making staff cuts in its library, but the board failed to do so, as Trustee Ginger Russell said she wanted to make sure the school libraries are open and staffed for students. The district will keep library paraprofessionals, but their schedule will be adjusted.

The board also decided to keep its school liaison position in a part-time capacity.

Superintendent Al Piwinski said the district does not know its student count which is projecting a loss of 53 students. It also does not know the amount of financing it will receive from the state.

"The substantial cuts we had to make made it all the more difficult," Bruff said. "It's not unique to North Branch. I've done this for a dozen years and it's trying times."

During the budget meetings, the district was criticized for its administrative costs. Bruff noted a study showed out of the state's 771 school districts North Branch ranked 749th for administrative expenditures and the lowest amount in Lapeer County.

During the long discussion about the budget three notes from the audience were passed to board members including two to McCrory and one to Secretary Lorrelei Natke.

Board President Gary Manthei was thanked by Russell for his years of service to the district. Manthei was not re-elected.

The budget included a projected increase of $126 in the foundation allowance and a blended count projected enrollment of 2,627.

The board also:

n Approved meal price increases which were part of the approved budget that helped offset a deficit. The price increases will include: Elementary lunches will now be $2 this fall and were $1.75, secondary lunches will be $2.35 up from $2, adult lunches will go from $3 to $3.50, milk prices will rise from 40 cents to 50 cents, elementary breakfasts will go from $1 to $1.35, and secondary breakfast prices will rise from $1.25 to $1.50.

Jennifer Decker can be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8125 or jennifer.decker@lapeergroup.com.