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So far, McLeod West has $590,212 in expenditure reductions on the table, trying to find its way out of debt.

But that $590,212 reduction in expenditures will be offset by an almost equal reduction in revenue as the district expects to lose about 60 students for the 2008-09 school year through open enrollment, other educational options and a natural decrease in the student population.

In January, the district had 318 K-12 students enrolled. At the start of the 2008-09 year, educational consultant Tony Boyer predicts, enrollment will be at 260.

Todd Netzke of School Management Services, a financial consulting company based in Rochester, told the school board at its May 14 meeting that the district will be $747,219 in debt in its unreserved fund balance by June 30, 2008, and $1.45 million in debt by June 30, 2009, even with the proposed cuts.

Boyer told the board that the district needs to address two questions:"Can we pass an operating levy? Can we bring students back? The whole process has to begin now."

Board Chair Tom Lemke suggested the board have a workshop meeting to discuss strategies for dealing with its budget and the district's future. That workshop is set for tonight (Wednesday) at 6:30 p.m. in the high school science room.

Lemke said that some students have already returned to the district, and that he hopes "the change in administration and direction" that McLeod West is working on will help attract more students.

Lemke recognized that the district lost a significant number of students when it decided to close the Stewart campus, but "we knew whichever building we closed, we would lose students."

Board member Brenda Miller said she still feels McLeod West has a lot to offer, but needs to market itself.

"We need to start marketing our positives," said Miller. "It's a competitive world."

Miller also said she felt the district needs to look at attracting new students, not just trying to draw back the students the district has lost so far.

Jill Knick, a parent organizer for a school support group, echoed those feelings, saying the group wants to help the district develop brochures and other marketing items. Knick also said that the district needs to get information out.

"There are parents out there who didn't realize that McLeod West was still going to be a K-12 school next year," said Knick.

Boyer said that the district is not going to survive without the public's support.

"I've challenged the staff, I've challenged the students, and now I'm challenging the public," said Boyer. "It's a dire situation, but we need to go forward."

In related business, Boyer presented the board with a new class schedule that reflects the cuts in staff.

Boyer said the new schedule meets all of the graduation requirements.

"It's really not a bad set of offerings for a school the size of McLeod West," said Boyer. He said the in-house schedule will be supplemented with offerings at neighboring GFW, the interactive television system and on-line learning.

In regards to interactive television, board member Todd Kalenberg reported that the Little Crow Telemedia Cooperative will be spending about $32,000 to upgrade McLeod West's interactive TV classroom.

Lemke said he'd like to set a public forum to explain the new schedule and how classes will be offered to the public.

"It's for everyone, but I'd really kind of like to focus on the parents," said Lemke. "It's their children who are being affected."

That forum was set for Wednesday, June 4, at 7 p.m.

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