BEVERLY — Facing what she says are inevitable cuts to the budget, schools Superintendent Marie Galinski is asking residents for help.
Galinski has written a letter requesting that residents fill out a "budget shortfall survey" on the School Department's website.
She asks people to "share your thoughts on how we ought to prioritize our activities next year."
Galinski said last week that the schools are facing a deficit of more than $400,000 and might have to lay off teachers in the middle of the school year. She attributed the problem in part to higher-than-expected special education costs and rising unemployment insurance for laid-off employees, combined with declining state aid.
In her letter, Galinski also points to soaring health insurance costs. The school district now pays $14,345 for health insurance for one staff member, compared to $9,358 in 2006, she said.
"We have been repeatedly called upon to do more with less," she wrote. "After a few years of this, one is forced with no options other than cutting programs and looking at other extreme measures."
Galinski is scheduled to appear before the City Council on Tuesday to talk about the budget problems. She and School Committee President Annemarie Cesa have said the School Committee might have to ask the City Council for more money.
The online survey is anonymous. It asks participants to rank a number of school programs and activities and answer questions about a variety of possible strategies.
The survey is available at beverlyschools.org.
Staff writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2675 or by e-mail at pleighton@salemnews.com.
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