NORTH MANCHESTER - A proposed budget without a funding increase for state school corporations in financial straits could result in staffing and program cuts, Manchester Community Schools Acting Superintendent Kim Thurston said Tuesday.

The corporation is considering a cut in certified staff and support staff. Other district-wide expenses, such as materials and supplies, overtime pay, field trips and extracurricular activity programs, could be minimized.

"A flat-line budget is actually an increase in expenditures with no additional revenue to address the automatic increases the school district will experience," he said.

Costs will be rising, though. Automatic increases include incremental pay raises for teachers and premium renewals for health and property insurances.

The superintendent told the school board utility costs are expected to make "more than a modest jump" in the next two years. Cinergy is requesting a 16 percent increase, he said.

Thurston and school administrators will be working on a finalized plan to meet in the budget.

In a survey, schools around the state are facing the same predicament as North Manchester's schools.

The state is attempting to correct a budget crisis with the flat-lined budgets.

The school board also approved policy revisions recommended by NEOLA, an organization providing schools with updates on guidelines and bylaws. Changes will be available soon on the corporation's Web site, www.mcs.k12.in.us

The school board members are: president Sally Krouse, vice president Todd Speicher, secretary Brad Perrott, Larry Miller, Thom Frantz, Kent Terrill and Caryle McLaughlin. Acting superintendent is Kim Thurston, and school corporation attorney is Al Schlitt. [[In-content Ad]]