Brandon Twp.- School district officials don’t expect to know until October if they will receive more revenue from the state, but a significant increase seems unlikely, based on what Interim Superintendent Lorrie McMahon says she is hearing from Lansing.
McMahon says it would likely take an increase of at least $100 per student in order for the school board to consider returning recently cut positions to the budget. Those positions include the school liaison officer, for which the district contributed $40,000 per year, with the township paying $74,000, the remainder of Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Detective Arnie Terrell’s salary and benefits.
‘Theoretically, it’s possible we could keep the school liaison officer, but there were a lot of things on the cut list and what things will be brought back is uncertain,? she said. ‘The kindergarten parapros, for example, impact education. Another thing not built into the budget is increases for the teachers.?
The foundation allowance is $7,200 per student currently. The district has budgeted for a $48 per student increase in foundation allowance for the 2008-09 school year.
The district is also waiting to see if the student count day in September reveals an increase or decrease.
‘If we lose students, that will defeat an increase (in foundation allowance),? McMahon said.
Township Supervisor Ron Lapp said he will be ‘very disappointed? if the foundation allowance dollar amount increases above what the school board budgeted for and the board chooses not to fund Terrell’s position.
‘It was my iunderstanding that if they got funding back, Arnie’s position was one of the things at the top of the list for restoration,? Lapp said. ‘He doesn’t have a teaching degree, but he’s a very important part of the school district.?
Lapp previously said he planned to recommend to the township board that they fund the full salary of the school liaison officer. He is currently waiting to see if the school district receives an increase in state funding.
Groveland Township has approximately 900 students enrolled in the Brandon School District. Township Supervisor Bob DePalma said noone has approached him or the Groveland board about helping to fund the school liaison, and he is not aware of any plans to do so.
‘I can’t speak for the board, but things have gotten tight and there’s no extra money,? he said. ‘I have only 6,000 residents and most of the communities around me have 10,000 to 15,000 residents and their budgets are two-and-a-half times the size of mine.?
DePalma added that he would need to know more about what a school liaison officer does and how other schools fund the position.
‘I don’t know enough about what that position does or how it’s funded or what it entails,? he said. ‘If we had the money, we’d probably be inclined to do it, but I don’t know if we have the money, we’re that tight.?