Public Input Wanted Regarding Rockwood School District's Budget Cuts

A series of three public meetings, one every week for three weeks in the last month, gave parents, patrons and Rockwood School District employees the chance to voice an opinion about how to continue slicing millions of dollars from the overall budget.

Time is running out before Rockwood school board members try to decide what elements to cut later this month, but if you would like to still make recommendations or share ideas, you can e-mail, call (636) 733-1140, or send a letter to the district's communications department.

This meeting series was preceded by a study by budget task force members who looked at various options, including input from staff, community members, parents and administrators in the past months.

Shirley Broz, Rockwood's chief financial officer, said Rockwood and other districts face "monumental challenges in the next few years."

"Our district motto and mission is 'whatever it takes,' but doing that takes resources," she said.

She said Rockwood's budget situation is not as bad as some nearby districts, but district officials still have "tough work to do."

Rockwood managers are calling their budget planning process "Guiding Change." Although the district's 2010-2011 operating revenue is $200.4 million, Broz said the economy has caused a decline in revenue from local sources, such as taxes, sales tax and interest income.

Broz said the state's foundation funding formula and transportation allotments have both decreased, because of "Missouri's overall budget woes."

At the Oct. 21 board meeting, Rockwood Superintendent Dr. Bruce Borchers called for an extra working session for Nov. 18 so members could spend more time assessing budget cuts.

Eureka-Wildwood Patch is planning a series of articles over the next two weeks to explore the details of this budgeting process, as the Rockwood board members approach this work session.

Please engage with other Patch community leaders in sharing opinions and recommendations as these articles are posted.