Why cutting budgets is hard in schools

Once again, I am trying to develop a technology plan which has few dollars and more expectations for service, reliability, and access. Seems to be the story of my career. Despite what seems like a healthy economy, school funding in Minnesota is leaving many schools looking for dollars to cut - including in technology budgets.

Despite our district being run in a fiscally responsible manner, we have been asked to reduce our total budget by 7% (after a 6% cut last year). Between declining student enrollments, funding increases that have not kept up with inflation and a shrunken budget reserve, these cuts are painful but needed. (I am also a taxpayer in the district and state in which I work.)

It would seem on the surface that if a school loses 5%, say, of their student population, it should cost 5% less to run the school. That not how it works. Here's an analogy:

My family of five loses 20% of its household when oldest child goes to college. That should mean 20% less in living expenses, right? Except:

• The mortgage, property taxes and insurance stay the same (or increase due to inflation)
• Utilities stay the same or only go down slightly - costs as much to heat the livingroom with four as with five people in it
• Basic maintenance and repairs remain the same (clogged pipes, roof replacement, snow removal)
• Time spent cleaning, mowing the lawn, cleaning the garage etc. remains pretty much the same

These are all "fixed expenses." Only when I move to a smaller house that more closely fits the needs of my smaller family - one that costs less to purchase and keep running - can I save real money as a result of a smaller family.

School districts can, of course, close and sell school buildings to reduce fixed operating costs and they should do so. This can be extremely unpopular with parents whose children may lose their neighborhood school or community members who may have a sentimental attachment to their alma mater. We can also raise class sizes, cut support roles like nurses, librarians and counselors, offer fewer classes, or reduce co-curricular activities. In the tech world we reduce staff, extend replacement schedules, and drop digital resources for staff and students.

I suppose after 43 years in education I should be somewhat numbed to the pain budget cutting causes to our kids and to those of us who care about them. But so far, the pain is still there.

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