Facing extensive cuts in state aid, Muskogee Public Schools officials met with parents Monday to hear their ideas on saving the district money.

School parents and patrons responded by questioning the need for so many secondary-level administrators, driver’s education and $25-per hour extra duty stipends.

Those attending — mostly Sadler Arts Academy and Tony Goetz Elementary School parents and members of the Muskogee High School ROTC — reviewed two lengthy lists of suggested budget cuts. One list had 65 proposals that had been considered in the past, the other list had 63 suggestions made by the public. No decision was made and no action was taken at the meeting. No school board members were present.

Another meeting is planned for January.

MPS Superintendent Mike Garde said the State of Oklahoma is “$471.7 million in the hole,” with budget prospects getting worse over the next year. He said MPS had 7.8 percent of its state allocation cut in August, 9.7 percent cut in September, 8.5 percent in October and 8.36 for November.

District Chief Financial Officer John Little painted an even grimmer picture for 2012 when the school no longer will get $1.6 million in federal stimulus money. That also will be when kindergarten teachers will have to be paid through the general fund instead of federal Title I funds.

Little said salaries, benefits, stipends and size of certified staff cannot be touched this year because of contract agreements. And, 87 percent of the school budget is personnel.

He said every staff cut that’s been done to date has been done through attrition. Teachers and other certified personnel are being given an early retirement incentive through December. The Muskogee Board of Education will consider an early retirement incentive for support workers such as secretaries and child nutrition workers at its regular meeting tonight.

Little said several budget reduction suggestions already are being done. For example, principals and assistant principals are substitute teaching, saving about $35,000, he said, adding that’s about the same salary as a beginning teacher.

Several parents expressed concern about reductions in support workers, including school secretaries.

“At Tony Goetz, those two secretaries, we are very fortunate to have,” said parent Leigh Ann Mathews.

Another parent, Angela Wilhite, said the secretaries also serve as nurses and counselors.

Little said secretaries resigning from Grant Foreman Elementary and Ben Franklin Science Academy will be replaced by existing office assistants at those schools with no positions being filled. Two secretaries are resigning from MHS, and one is voluntarily leaving the Indian education program.

Little said 40 people work at the Board of Education Service and Technology Center, 15 of which are clerical.

“A lot are grant-funded,” he said. “You cannot reduce them without reducing the grant.”