WILLMAR -- When Willmar school administrators meet this winter to consider ways to cut the budget before the next school year, they'll develop a variety of options for the School Board.
The School Board voted Monday to approve a resolution directing the administration to study budget and personnel cuts. The recommendations will be forwarded to the board in the spring.
No dollar amount was included in the resolution, but the board's previous discussions have raised figures ranging from $800,000 to $1 million. The board cut $800,000 from the district's budget last year.
The district will spend down some of its reserves this year. Computer models indicate that the trend will continue in coming years without some major cuts.
Board member Mike Carlson said he wanted to see a variety of possible cuts, totaling more than the amount the board would be cutting. Board members could choose items from the list to reach the level of cuts they need to make, he said.
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"I think it could allow the board to come to a solid consensus," he said.
Last year, the administrative team proposed a list of cuts totaling $800,000. The board made a few adjustments but approved most of the items on the list.
Carlson said he heard about the method from other school board members at a meeting. "What this program allows us to do is sit down and see where we as the board are in agreement," he said.
Board Chairman Dion Warne said he was concerned the approach could "cause a lot of consternation" for the school staff.
"I think it will give the public a better perspective of what we're up against," Carlson said. "We're now down to the point where it's going to affect the larger part of the district."
The district's administrators would probably meet as a group to develop the recommendations, rather than set a dollar amount to cut from each site, said Superintendent Kathy Leedom.
Leedom said she understood why board members were interested in choosing from a list of cuts. "One of the challenges is it's just such a painful process, even for the administrators, to go through," she said.
The board made "piecemeal" cuts last year to avoid cutting major programs, said board member Brad Schmidt. With Carlson's idea, the board might be able to choose between making a series of smaller cuts or eliminating a program.
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Administrators have told her that it may be necessary to eliminate programs this year because there aren't that many small cuts left, Leedom said.
The public could help by suggesting budget-cutting ideas at the board's public forum on Thursday, said board member Wayne Lenzmeier.
Some school districts have set up Web sites for public comments, Lenzmeier said. Warne suggested that people who want to contact the board members could e-mail them at their addresses available on the district,'s Web site, www.willmar . k12.mn.us.
The board's public forum will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Willmar Education and Arts Center.
