By Sterling McGinn
The Tahquamenon Area Schools (TAS) Board of Education will meet again this week after the board failed to pass the budget for the 2024-2025 school year on Monday.
Board members Eric Feldhusen, Laura Generou, and Veronica Edwards voted against the budget. President Stuart McTiver, Larry Vincent, and Bruce Klusmeyer voted to approve the budget. Trustee Kristine McCraren was absent.
TAS is required to set a budget for the upcoming school year prior to July 1.
The Tahquamenon Area Schools Board of Education met on Monday, June 24 at 6 p.m. in an elementary classroom due to ongoing construction within the facility. There were seven members of the public in attendance.
Prior to the vote, Superintendent Stacy Price gave a breakdown of items in the budget, including adding a fourth bus driver.
One elementary teacher is resigning and that position will not be filled.
Price said it is assumed the district will save money on utilities when students are moved out of the old high school, and it is closed.
“We are projecting about $40,000 [savings], but I am hopeful that it will be more than that,” she said.
“The other big thing is athletics, and trying to make a reduction there also,” Price said. “It has been proposed many different ways, I am hopeful that we don’t have to do that—the amount is about $36,000.”
Feldhusen, Generou and Edwards did not share their reasons for voting against the budget that evening.
“We cannot go into the 2024-2025 fiscal year without a budget,” Price said. “We have to have a budget, or we are in trouble.”
The TAS Board will convene on Thursday at 7 p.m. to again discuss the proposed budget.
