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Officials in the St. Paul school district are trying to fix a $20 million shortfall in next year's budget, and the likely cuts include teachers, transportation and other central services. School board members won't make the final budget decisions until June, but principals, teachers and parents are working now on a school-by-school basis to help shape those reductions.

	"We're kind of short on paper," said Lily Bevis, the Student Council vice president. "Teachers don't have enough paper to copy exams on or make work sheets." (MPR Photo/Tim Pugmire)

At a special table in the cafeteria at St. Paul Central High School, student leaders regularly conduct lunchtime fundraising activities. Last week, for instance, they collected money for a suicide prevention project. This week's project aimed closer to the classroom; they're collecting paper for the school.

"We're kind of short on paper," said Lily Bevis, the Student Council vice president. "Teachers don't have enough paper to copy exams on or make work sheets. So, we have to copy things off the board. So, we're asking students to bring in reams of paper, and for every ream they bring in, they get a raffle ticket, and then we have prizes we'll be drawing for on the morning announcements."

The school's supply problems prompted one Central student to go door-to-door in his neighborhood recently seeking donations.

Aaron Rothe says he raised $250 for the school. "We all feel very adamantly that there should be more money for the schools," Rothe said. "And a lot of kids are angry and disgusted and feel that it's really hard to learn at school when we don't have paper and we don't have the resources we need."

	Principal Mary Mackbee says the budget problems will only get worse, with the district facing a $20 million deficit next year. (MPR Photo/Tim Pugmire)

Central High School's paper shortage stems from the district's mid-year budget fix. Rising costs, declining enrollment and fewer teacher retirements than expected created a $7 million hole in the current budget, and St. Paul's 70 schools had to share in the cuts.

Principal Mary Mackbee says Central, a school of 2,150 students, took a $120,000 hit.

"After the mid-year cuts, we looked at our budget and I mean there was just nothing there, just bare bones," Mackbee said. "So, at that point we said we were not going to be purchasing any more paper supplies. We thought we had an ample supply to last us through the year. And, of course, we didn't know if it was going to last, but we didn't have any recourse at that point."

Mackbee says the budget problems will only get worse, with the district facing a $20 million deficit next year. Central High School's share of those cuts will be about $700,000, but people at the school will get a big say in where the cuts come from.

	While one school's site council might decide to cut paper supplies, another could drop field trips and all will likely have to cut staff to close the budget gap. (MPR Photo/Tim Pugmire)

The St. Paul school district relies on site councils made up of principals, teachers and parents to plan and prioritize each school's budget. Superintendent Pat Harvey says there's no easy way to cut $20 million. But she says the district's site-based management approach does help some.

"Our schools receive a lump sum of money, and they're able to make some decisions about how to make it work at the school level," Harvey said. "That doesn't mean it's any easier, it just means that they have a little bit more latitude in some tough decisions."

So, while one school's site council might decide to cut paper supplies, another could drop field trips and all will likely have to cut staff to close the budget gap.

Harvey estimates more than 400 positions will be cut district-wide. School leaders are looking at broader, district-wide cuts. One plan would eliminate bus rides for middle school and high school students who live within two miles of their school - double the current range. Cuts to special education and English language learner programs are also on the table.

School board member Anne Carroll says budget cuts are the hardest part of the job.

"I just wish we weren't in this situation," Carroll said. "I wish that the funding was sufficient to meet the needs of our students. There is no more fat in this system. There hasn't been for quite a while. We're way into the muscle at this point."

Principals and site councils will submit 2002-2003 budget plans to district officials by early May. The school board will then hold public hearings on the proposed district budget before its final adoption in June.