USD 410 ‘Community Conversation’ draws close to 100 people

Most of the 100 chairs were filled Thursday evening at the ?Community Conversation? arranged by the Unified School District 410 Board of Educa?tion and its superintendent in the Gordon Mohn Community Center at Hillsboro Elementary School.

At the meeting, USD patrons asked questions and offered feedback regarding cuts under consideration to cover a projected budget deficit of $300,000 for the upcoming fiscal year.

?With massive projected state deficits in the current and future years?our challenge is to prepare for the worst and hope for the best,? said Steve Noble, superintendent.

Following his presentation on ?School Finance 101,? an overview of how school funding works, Noble joined board members Eddie Weber, Rod Koons, Dale Klassen, Gary Andrews, Mark Rooker and Joe Sechrist, who arrived later, and State Rep. Bob Brookens to answer questions, respond to suggestions and provide background regarding the budget dilemma.

Clint Seibel, who works as the city?s economic development director, served as moderator for the evening.

Questions ranged from asking for the rationale in choosing which sports to consider cutting, to clarification regarding teacher negotiation issues, to reductions in contracted services.

Noble said the board will take action regarding the cuts at its regular meeting Monday, April 12. A full report of Thursday?s meeting and the upcoming board meeting will be appear in the April 14 issue of the Free Press. Those reports will appear on this site later in the week.

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