Bedford
Public
Schools

From the Desk of our Superintendent

March 1, 2013

March 1, 2013

Dear Friends of Bedford Schools:

We are involved in a very difficult time for Bedford Schools.  If you have been following the news or our announcements, you understand that because of reduced state funding and declining enrollment, our district is in deficit.

According to Michigan School Law, a school district is prohibited from operating with a deficit budget.  Consequently, the state has placed our district on a Deficit Elimination Plan.

We are currently operating under this Deficit Elimination Plan and it will be in effect for the next five years.  This year is particularly difficult because the reductions we are forced to make occur in the beginning of the five-year time frame in which we are required to move out of deficit.  A number of “cuts” have already been implemented and we will continue to negotiate concessions with our employees.  Please keep in mind, the only reasons we are in deficit are due to a significant decrease in school funding and declining enrollment. The most disheartening aspect of the Deficit Elimination Plan is that it requires the Board to make reductions in services that directly affect our employees and the children whom they serve.

Due to the above stated factors, it is necessary to close Temperance Road Elementary (TRE).  This icon of Bedford Schools is a wonderful facility and the staff is exemplary.  Unfortunately, because of its size and our financial necessity to follow the Deficit Elimination Plan, TRE is the only building that meets the physical size requirements for the district to “right size”.

On Wednesday, March 6, 2013, a Town Hall Meeting will be held to explain the reasons for this decision, the parameters we must follow, and the manner in which the students will be merged into our remaining three elementary buildings.

At this time, the only children that will be affected by this closure will be Temperance Road Elementary students.  There will be no wholesale redistricting and even the TRE bus routes and bus stops will remain largely the same; only the destination of the bus will be different.  Because of existing empty rooms in other buildings, we anticipate this “blending” of student and staff into the three remaining buildings will result in class sizes of 30 or less students per section.

None of us want this change to happen.  Please remember that we were put in this position by our Legislators. I encourage you to join us on March 6 at 7:00 p.m. at Bedford High School to learn more about the Deficit Elimination Plan and its consequences.  You will be given information about how to contact your Legislator and demand satisfactory school funding.

Sincerely,
Mr. Jon White
Interim Superintendent of Education