MONROE, OH (WTOL) - Monroe Public Schools hopes to get its hands on almost $700,000 in additional state aide, but it must fulfill certain state requirements to get it.
Michigan schools took a big hit in funding from the state budget. Districts lost up to $470 per student. However, districts can recover some of that money by completing what the state called "financial best practices."
If a district meets four out of five of those, it can get back $100 per student.
"It's obvious that the legislature wants the schools to be held more accountable," said Randy Monday, superintendent for Monroe Public Schools.
The governor set aside $300 million for schools that meet the financial best practices. He said that is the how much money will be saved statewide if all districts were to implement the practices.
Monroe just named itself as the policyholder for its health insurance. That is the fourth best practice Monroe completed.
Monday said the budget is steady, and they will not run in a deficit next year. Yet, he said extra money will help.
"We still have a lot of work to do to continue to have reductions," Monday said. "In another year, we'll be back at the drawing board trying to do this all again."
The district previously met three of the best practices. One of those is sharing services with other nearby school districts. They also cannot just renew contracts with transportation, cleaning or food services. They must get competitive bids before they choose a provider. Finally, they have to put out a report card to the community to let them know how students are doing.
Monday said he does not want to stop there. "I personally would like to see five out of five," he said.
The last money saver requires negotiating contracts. It wants employees to pay at least 10 percent of their health care premium.
"We have got to continue to reduce our costs, and the schools just cannot afford to continue to pay the rate of insurances that we're paying now," Monday said.
The superintendent said this could affect the number of teachers the district will bring back. Monroe sent layoff notices to all of its teachers and administrators back in April.
Monroe and other Michigan school districts should know whether they will get the extra funding by October.
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