DAYTON-The Dayton School Board held a special meeting on April 5 at the recommendation of Superintendent Rich Stewart to approve a Reduced Educational Program for the 2023-24 school year. This would allow the Board to begin the process to provide adequate notice to affected employees and in time to draft the budget for next year.

Several factors affect next year's budget including predictions of enrollment and legislation, a review of current staff considering seniority, programs and what is called the S275 for basing staffing on a prototypical school model. Another major factor is the elimination of the COVID reliefs funds for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER).

A leadership team comprised of Stewart, Secondary Principal Guin Joyce, Elementary Principal Amy Cox, and Business Manager Jana Eaton concluded that a $300,000 reduction would be needed based on the above factors. They recommended a reduction of two full time secondary certificated staff which was paid for by the ESSER funds and eliminating a half time STEM teacher position in the elementary school and two part time administrative or support staff positions. Stewart will present specific reduction recommendations to the Board at a later time.

Programs that the leadership team would like to see maintained for the coming year is the Bulldog Room, K-12 counseling, K-12 music, and an academic advisor.

Stewart pointed out that the district is currently fully staffed, but as far as the coming budget is concerned, they are overstaffed. They will continue to review the education program and adjust as needed in hopes of adding staff and programs in the future rather than reducing them. Board Chair Jeff McGowen acknowledged the difficulty of making these decisions but said that protecting the budget is one of the top priorities of a School Board.