POTTERVILLE — Potterville Public Schools plans to cut costs now that its financial condition is being monitored by state officials but there will be no layoffs, according to Superintendent Sam Sinicropi.
Instead, the district will consider any expenses carefully, but avoid impacts on students, he said.
The school district is the subject of a police investigation as questions have been raised about financial shortfalls, and a staffer who previously handled district finances has been removed from those responsibilities, officials said.
Bob Wheaton, the director of the office of public and governmental affairs for the Michigan Department of Education, confirmed to the State Journal that the district was on a deficit reduction plan.
“State law requires a local school district to have a 5% fund balance for the fiscal year that ends June 30,” he said in an email. “Potterville’s fund balance was below that. We will be working with Potterville on a deficit reduction plan. A number of districts in the state have entered deficit reduction plans over the last several years. Deficit reduction plans are designed to increase a district’s fund balance to 5% or more and provide greater financial stability.”