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MEDFORD SCHOOLS Shumate says initiatives will require reserve spending Comment By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 8, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Apr 8, 2015 at 9:39 AM By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 8, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Apr 8, 2015 at 9:39 AM » Social News Medford schools Superintendent Brian Shumate pitched a $122.2 million operating budget to a work committee Tuesday evening and recommended that the district spend down reserves to expand its academic offerings. The proposed 2015-16 budget includes $119.7 million in general fund revenue — a $5.5 million, or 4.8 percent, increase over the current budget. The increase represents about $1.4 million in additional revenue, $800,000 from the Southern Oregon Education Service District to offset the cost of special education services formerly provided by SOESD, and $3.3 million for full-day kindergarten. Despite the increase, the proposed budget includes about $2.5 million in deficit spending from the general fund reserves to cover one-time costs associated with launching full-day kindergarten this fall and to implement several of Shumate’s initiatives. “I take deficit spending seriously,” Shumate said in his budget message Tuesday. “But I believe the use of these funds is a necessary investment to jumpstart the changes needed to improve student achievement.” Shumate said he would like to see $1.5 million from the reserves allocated for several specific investments, including extended day programs at Howard, Washington and Roosevelt elementary schools; a transition program to prepare middle school students for high school; a pre-engineering and bio-medical program offered by Project Lead the Way; and a program — Bulldogs to Raiders — to connect eighth-grade Hispanic students from McLoughlin Middle School with representatives from Southern Oregon University. Shumate also intends to reinstate parent-teacher conferences. These programs are part of Shumate’s five-year plan to increase class time, implement career pathways in the high schools and expand dual credit and articulated credit offerings. “This is just the beginning, and while there are some associated costs, it’s what we can afford right now,” Shumate said. The deficit spending would bring the district’s general fund reserves down from about $9.9 million to $7.4 million, said Brad Earl, who was promoted from chief financial officer to chief operations officer in February. (Correction: Brad Earl's job title has been updated in this story.) “It’s getting down there, but it’s still enough,” Earl said. No major cuts are planned for 2015-16, but major expenditures include about $3.2 million in wage increases for licensed and classified employees and in step increases, about $2.5 million for additional staffing for full-day kindergarten, and about $700,000 to supplement a $500,000 grant and maintain physical education programs at all 14 elementary schools. The budget committee, which includes seven community members and all seven School Board members, will review the budget and convene on Monday to discuss the budget and hear from the public. Reach education reporter Teresa Thomas at 541-776-4497 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/teresathomas_mt . By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 8, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Apr 8, 2015 at 9:39 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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