An austerity plan that includes closing Graytown and Carroll elementary schools if an operating levy on the November ballot fails has been approved by the Benton-Carroll-Salem school board.

The schools would be closed starting with the 2012-13 school year, reducing personnel by six teaching and 10 non-teaching positions.

The board has also decided to end busing for all students who live within a 2-mile radius of their schools and to end high school busing completely at the start of the 2012-13 school year if the levy fails.

Single bus routes would also be discontinued as well as board-funded transportation for the high school band to away football games.

The school board approved a list of cuts that go into effect immediately:

• Elementary swim lessons

• Staff development training unless paid for by a grant or is required

• Post-season development for coaches that are paid for by the district

Cuts to begin in January, 2012 – if the levy fails – include implementing a pay-to-participate fee for athletics as well as a fee for using school facilities, a fee for “Biddy” programs, and a transportation fee for field trips.

Voters in November will decide a 3.9-mill, 5-year levy.

In August, they turned down the same millage amount levy that would have generated an additional $1.32 million annually for the Ottawa County school system.

District treasurer Anne Arnold reported to the board in July that the school system ended the fiscal year on June 30 about $35,178 under budget.

She credited a “team effort of the district staff to control expenses.”

Still, expenses exceeded revenues by about $1.7 million, with the deficit being made up from a carry-over from the previous year as planned.

The district has realized a loss of state stabilization funding as well as funding intended to reimburse the district for the loss of tangible personal property tax revenues, she said.

The administration and school board opted to close Rocky Ridge Elementary School at the end of the last school year - part of a re-alignment in the district that the school board and administration say will cut costs as a budget deficit looms in fiscal year 2013.

The board will meet Oct. 11 for a workshop and Oct. 26 for its regular meeting.

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