Contact: Ric Dressen
Superintendent
952-848-4000
ricdressen@edina.k12.mn.us

Media Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Edina School Board approves 2009-2010 budget
Budget approved at June 22 Board meeting after five months of study

Edina, Minn., June 22, 2009 – After five months of extensive study, the Edina School Board approved the K-12 budget for the 2009-2010 school year. The approved $72.664 million budget includes $1.6 million of identified reductions. The Board came to a decision after receiving input from staff, parents and community members. The administration developed the budget to minimize additional reductions in the 2010-2011 school year. The cuts reflected in the budget allow the District to minimize class-size increases and limit extensive program modifications.

“A strength of the 2009-2010 budget is that the reductions can be sustained long-term which allows the District to be responsive to changing financial conditions,” said Superintendent Ric Dressen. “While the District will feel the cuts, I am thankful we were able to minimize the impact to classroom instruction.”

Thirty-five staff positions will be lost as a result of the reductions. The District implemented the Budget Reduction, Reallocations, and Revenue Generation (BRRRG) process, which identified $2.349 million of budget adjustments based on community and staff input. A 48-member advisory team was instrumental in shaping and prioritizing the proposal. Not all of the reductions were required because of $650,000 in favorable adjustments in the 2008-2009 school year, and the result of the 2009 Minnesota legislative session.

The state’s school funding formula will not change during the next two school years. However, a portion of the state payments will be delayed, requiring the District to short-term borrow to meet cash flow demands. This will cost approximately $300,000 over the next two years. The District has targeted federal stimulus funds to program and service areas that do not require ongoing revenue support, since the stimulus funds are only available for two years. The administration and School Board will conduct further study on the use of the federal stimulus funds at future meetings before finalizing the expenditures.

Moving forward, EPS will focus on several key initiatives that are part of the strategic plan, including expanding technology opportunities and educational intervention programs. 

The detailed BRRRG items can be found here.

About Edina Public Schools:
Edina Public Schools is comprised of six elementary schools (K-5), two middle schools (6-9) and one senior high (10-12). Total enrollment is approximately 7,800 students.The District serves Edina, a first-tier Minneapolis suburb comprised of approximately 47,450 people.

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