January 13, 2010
Dear Friends,
I am sure many of you have questions about the implementation of the required 4% budget cuts mandated by the Legislature and how they will affect the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB). The schools are required to cut $908,500 this fiscal year and to be prepared for a potential cut of $1.13 million next year.
As you are well aware, the process of planning and balancing an ever decreasing state budget has been a difficult one for all Utah state agencies and schools and I want to assure you that the USDB administrative team have considered all cost saving measures while contemplating program cuts and employee layoffs. Creating the 2010 budget presented us with one of the most difficult financial challenges in many years. We approached this budget process with a focus on prioritizing our core services and maintaining the high quality programs that are critical to our students. While all of the programs USDB offers are valuable, our emphasis during this process has been on identifying savings that will help us to continue the delivery of these important services efficiently and effectively while moving forward toward meeting our goals to focus our resources where they have the most impact on student education. (USDB Education Interim Committee Report, 2009)
I want to share with you the information that I presented to the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee on January 12, 2010 regarding our proposed budget cuts. The following decisions that have been proposed as of today:
· Elimination of three USDB programs including the Ogden residential program, summer camps, and short term programs with a cost saving of $462,500
· Mandated staff reduction with a cost savings of $446,000
The proposed budget cuts will allow the schools to continue to provide valuable educational services to our students while meeting the mandatory budget cuts required for the 2010 budget year. As formal decisions about the budget are made, I will communicate them to the schools, families, and our supporting consumer groups. Staff and students who will be affected by these cuts will be notified individually. I want you to know that I am fully aware that although the cuts will affect all of us, they will be harder on some than others. I am grateful for your dedication and support. The Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind remain an exemplary school system, on so many counts — including the excellence of students, faculty, and staff. I do believe that we will emerge from the current difficulties ready to continue our progress toward becoming one of the nation’s greatest educational programs for blind, deaf, and deafblind students.
Sincerely,
Steve Noyce, Superintendent
Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
742 Harrison Blvd.
Ogden, Utah 84404
801-629-4710
Email: steven@usdb.org