A loss of local and state funding has officials in the Cape Girardeau School District asking teachers and community members to help cut $2.2 million from next year's budget.

School officials say everything's on the table for possible elimination, including classes and teaching positions.

"It's a little like triage in an emergency room," said Rob Huff, assistant superintendent and district chief financial officer. "We have to pick what we can save, but everybody deserves to be saved."

The district is in the process of forming a task force of between 85 to 100 school employees and community members. Around 40 staff members already volunteered, but district leaders say they need parents and other community members.

Huff anticipates a $720,000 loss in state funding for the 2003-04 school year, and the district hasn't received the amount of property tax revenue projected for the past two years.

Without the $2.2 million in cuts, which represents a 6 percent cut to the budget, Huff said the district will be broke within two years.

Central High School teacher Debbie Lusk signed up to serve on the task force. Lusk, who has taught for 29 years, said she's never faced this serious of a financial situation.

"It's kind of frightening," she said. "I don't see that there's any way to do this without impacting kids."

The task force will meet five times between Oct. 27 and Nov. 10 to scrutinize the district's budget and make recommendations on what expenditures to eliminate. The Cape Girardeau School Board will make a final decision on the cuts at its Jan. 19 meeting.

Parent and Central Middle School teacher Mary Stone said she thinks allowing the public and school employees a chance to weigh in on what should be cut is a good thing.

"Anytime you put people together to brainstorm, you get different perspectives," Stone said.

Although Stone did not volunteer for the task force, her husband did.

School board members and district administrators have set some parameters for the task force, including a prioritized list of seven areas of the budget that might be reduced.

Superintendent Mark Bowles said the list was developed with a "students-first" mindset -- cuts that directly impact students will be made last.

Task force members will have a choice of spreading the cuts over several years or taking the full $2.2 million out of next year's budget.

The group will first look to noninstructional expenses, such as utilities and cleaning supplies; instructional expenses, such as computers and books; and subsidized programs, such as athletics and food service, to eliminate cost.

Next on the priority list are the jobs of custodians, maintenance workers, nurses and clerical workers, followed by the jobs of counselors, librarians, paraprofessionals and administrators.

Last on the list to cut are classroom teachers, because of the direct impact that would have on students. Seventy-five percent of the district's budget is spent on salaries, which means a large portion of the cuts will have to come from there.

"We don't have $2.2 million worth of waste in our budget," said Huff. "I don't see how we can get to that amount without hitting staff."

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128