COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater Board of Education has finalized the district’s spending plan for the 2015-2016 school year and it’s based on a per pupil net state funding increase of $30 per student rather than the $140 reported last month in the state budget adopted by the legislature. The school board met in special session Monday night when it also approved amendments to the 2014-2015 budget with the action closing the books on the school year that ended last month.
The annual budget presentation released at Monday’s meeting said for the upcoming academic year, the district laid off 12 teachers, 2 administrators, 2 secretaries and a half-time central office position. It also indicated that step increases for teachers were given for 2015-16 for all Coldwater Education Association members while current negotiations are still in progress with the CESPA bargaining unit.
In the 15 years since 2000, the student enrollment in the Coldwater School District has declined from a peak of 3,335 for the 2001-2002 school year to a low of 2,710 for the this past year.