The Lawrence public school district could trim more than $1 million from the payroll by crowding more students into every classroom.
Nearly $750,000 could be saved by eliminating all school nurses.
State Rep. Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence, left, and Rep. Ralph Tanner, R-Baldwin, examine a sheet listing potential budget cuts to the Lawrence school district if Gov. Bill Graves' proposals are adopted. Community members gathered Tuesday evening at the district headquarter to discuss steps to counteract expected cuts of state funding of public education.
And dropping a program that helps prevent teen-agers from dropping out of school could net $140,000 in savings.
But at what cost?
"It breaks my heart," Supt. Randy Weseman said. "These are the kinds of things we're not going to be able to do if we cut $1 million or $2 million."
Nearly 200 people including five state legislators attended a forum Tuesday sponsored by the district's Business/Education Partnership to consider effects of closing a $426 million shortfall in the state treasury, much of which may be cut from public education. The forum was at the district's headquarters.
Gov. Bill Graves will submit a proposed budget Monday to the 2002 Legislature that cuts an estimated $2.4 million from state appropriations to the Lawrence school district in 2002-2003. Other state agencies also would take a hit, but the $158 per-student cut in base state aid to school districts promoted by Graves would likely undermine cherished local education programs.
Weseman said the school board would prepare for the worst, but he pleaded with the Douglas County lawmakers to help convince colleagues in Topeka to feel Lawrence's pain.
"We really look to the Legislature for the kind of help we need to provide an adequate education," Weseman said.
Sen. Sandy Praeger, R-Lawrence, said local legislators were well aware of the plight of public education.
"You're preaching to the choir when you're talking to our delegation," she said.
Praeger urged the audience to lobby this year by phone, mail, fax, e-mail or personal appearance. Mention anecdotes to articulate the value of public education. Ask relatives, friends and business associations to do the same elsewhere, she said.
Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence, said taxpayers shouldn't leave any lobbying stone unturned. Don't concentrate just on area legislators. Reach out to every member in the House and Senate to bring in votes for public education, she said.
"If you don't ask, people won't give it to you," Ballard said.
Praeger said spending proposals would be a tough sell this session. The entire House is up for re-election, and political district boundaries will be redrawn.
"To have both of them in the same year just spells chaos for the legislative process," she said.
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