COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Layoffs are looming in the Coldwater School District at the end of the current academic year because of a growing budget deficit caused in part by a decline in enrollment of 60 students compared to last year. That was the word last night from the District’s Chief Financial Officer Terry Boguth at the regular monthly meeting of the Coldwater School. She said five dozen fewer students means a $445,000 cut in state aid this year.
Further details on possible staff cuts were not revealed at last night’s meeting. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tina Kerr said the plan is to submit to the Board at their March meeting any potential layoffs that seem to be on the horizon so that they can be sure that the staff that would be affected by the cuts would have plenty of opportunities to seek other employment if they want to.
The district’s expected red ink for the 2014-2015 school year as presented last fall was $518,000 and that has now grown to a projected deficit of at least $1,359,000.