PORTAGE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Portage Public Schools are facing about an $8 million dollar budget deficit due to the coronavirus pandemic.
During a virtual meeting on Monday the Portage Public Schools Board of Education met to discuss what types of cuts they will have to make in order to make up for the lost revenue after they, like all other schools in Michigan, were forced to close back in March.
Portage’s Superintendent Mark Bielang said, “…this is by far the most difficult budgeting cycle that I’ve ever been through.”
The $8 million dollar deficit is a reduction of approximately $650 to $750 per student.
The budget cuts could include slashing funding for middle school athletics and other programs, a 7% reduction in administration and teacher staffing costs, elimination to book purchasing for the media centers, a reduction in the number of paraprofessionals at the schools, and more.
The board will hold a virtual public hearing on Monday, June 29 to further discuss the possible cuts. It will take place at 6:30 p.m. and the livestream link will be put on the school’s homepage before the meeting.
Public comments unrelated to the budget will be accepted via email to communications@portageps.org until June 29, at 5:30 p.m. Public comments pertaining to the budget will be accepted to communications@portageps.org during the budget hearing portion of the meeting.
Portage’s budget announcement comes after Kalamazoo Public School officials also announced budget cuts totaling nearly $7.5 million dollars. School budgets are due to Lansing by July 1.
