Tue, Oct 14 2008
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Published May 14, 2008 10:57 am - Cost of learning going up By REBECCA HATTAWAY
Look around and it’s clear — from gas to food to postage stamps — everything is getting more expensive. Families and businesses are starting to feel the pinch in their pocketbooks; schools are too. At Monday night’s Board of Education meeting, Claremore Superintendent Mike McClaren presented the district’s financial outlook for the 2008-2009 year. “Our cost of doing business from day to day keeps going up, keeps going up,” he said. “We do have one of the lowest administrative costs in the state for a district our size.” But facing reductions in state aid and title programs on top of increasing expenses, next year’s budget is expected to be a challenge. “When you talk to legislators, they say education is getting more that it ever has in the history of the state,” McClaren said. “But we’re experiencing record growth in goods and services — electrical, contracted services and fuel.” That means in order to keep the district on track financially, changes are on the horizon. “We have to watch our expenditures. The principals have helped with (keeping down) substitute costs,” he said. “We’ll also be looking at our energy consumption.” Other areas that will be evaluated for possible savings include special programs and class consolidation. “We will come to you with a plan shortly,” he told the Board, “but it’s realistic that class size will increase. We may not have the paraprofessional help for classrooms that we’ve had before.” The cost of school meals will also be going up. The Board voted for a five-cent increase in breakfasts — to $1 — and a 25-cent increase for lunches — to $1.75 for elementary schools and $2 for the junior high and high school. “Our last price increase was 2003,” McClaren said. He cited Bartlesville Schools as a price point comparison. In 2008-2009 they will charge $1.10 for elementary breakfasts, $1.85 for elementary lunches, $1.25 for middle school and high school breakfasts, and $2.10 for middle school and high school lunches. 
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