With state proposed budget cuts, schools across Arizona are preparing for the worst-case scenarios, and the Tombstone Unified School District is no exception.

According to Arizona legislation, the state is proposing  $133.2 million in budget cuts for grades K-12.

 “The cuts are going to hurt everybody in the state,” said Robert Devere, the principal of Tombstone High School. “We’re just in a better spot than most schools.”

TSD Superintendent Karl Uterhardt said, the district has been streamlining its budget, which has made the district more prepared.

Uterhardt said the past 10 years the district shrank in student population, losing up to 250 students a year. This has been the first year the district has gained students.

With the loss of students, the district took the necessary measurement of cutting back on elective programs, like art and band, which are not required by state education standards.

Devere added that they have are ready for this because of prior planning.

“We have been cutting and adjusting for the past several years,” Devere said, “We have been cutting costs in every area.”    

The district is looking at a 2 percent cut from maintenance and operations and $75,000 from the overall budget, Uterhardt said. If worst comes to worst, the district could be looking at a total cut of $680,000.

The district is confident that it will not need to make cuts for the next fiscal year, Uterhardt said.

“We are not happy but we are prepared,” Uterhardt said, “We’re not looking at cutting any programs.”

Devere said that while the school does not have any extravagant programs, but does offer a variety of classes including art, band, career technical education, agriculture and culinary arts.

“The district is going to continue giving a good education to the kids,” said Uterhardt.

To continue the streamlining process of being fiscally responsible, the district is looking into salary and insurance premium freezes, Uterhardt said.

If the school needs to hire new faculty, it will be looking inside the district to fill the vacancies.

“Compared to other districts throughout the state, I don’t think we’ll hurt as much,” Uterhardt said.

Arizona ranks 49th in education funding, according to Quality Counts 2008, an annual education report by Education Week. The national spending average per-pupil is $8,973, but Arizona only spends $6,232 per-pupil.

“The state is already ranked 49th,” Uterhardt said, “I don’t know how much more they can take away.”

Devere said he hopes the legislature finds alternative resources and is looking at all possible options for funding.

By delaying the final budget cuts, the state is making it more difficult on the districts to finalize their proposed budgets for the upcoming fiscal year, Uterhardt said.

The district will have the final cuts by April and a complete budget for the 2010 fiscal year by June or July, Uterhardt said.

“It’s not going to be easy this upcoming year,” Uterhardt said, “But Tombstone is in a good position.”