From a 4 day school week to cuts to athletics, community members weigh in on many options, hoping to find ways to cut down on next year's school district 51 budget.

The district plans on making between 5 and 8 million dollars in cuts, so to find out what areas are most important to the community, the district asked.

And parents, teachers and staff responded.

For the last 25 years, Sheron McCampbell has been driving Mesa County's children to and from school.

“It makes your heart so full,” she said. “Once they get on the bus they're like my children because I'm responsible for them. And I want them to have a good day and you talk to the kids and see them grow up."

But as enrollment grows, and the state takes away funding, the district has no choice but to make cuts to its budget.

So Thursday, parents, teachers, principals and even some young students gathered at Bookcliff Middle School for the first of three community budget forums.

"It's important we hear what community thinks about what priorities should be to help the board make decisions," Superintendent Steve Schultz said.

A microphone was passed around so the audience could react to the four main areas where cuts could be made, including:
1. 5 day school week changes to 4 day school week
2. Changes in bussing/ possible fees
3. Increased fees for athletics/ extracurricular
4. Closing schools in the district

When it was proposed bussing be cut from schools, Sheron felt she had to take a stand.

"It’s a sad thing because I just think there would be so many children missing out if we didn't have the school buses," she said,

After public discussion, clickers were used to vote on yes or no questions on each topic.

To Sheron's wishes, 89 percent of people said they didn't want to see bussing cut, but 90 percent said they'd like to see the district charge kids to ride.

"I worry about that too, because I think it would be hard on people now," Sheron said.

What about a four day school week?

The community clicked, and overwhelmingly voted for a 4 day week by 88 percent, something that could potentially save the district $2 million.

Schultz says community input is vital in helping the board decide how to cut possibly $8 million dollars from an already shrinking pot.

"They’re bringing information from their perspective,” he said. “We need to have those fresh eyes, so we appreciate people's participation."

For now, Sheron can only hope her perspective showed through.

"I love my job. I've seen so many kids and they've grown up. It's wonderful to see them in the community."

People were also asked if they thought funding should be eliminated for extracurricular activities, to which most answered no.

But most said they wanted to see increases in fees- that would include athletics.

The closest vote was whether or not the district should consider closing a school, and that was basically deadlocked.

The budget advisory committee will submit recommendations to the board of education on April 17 on how they feel the budget should be balanced.

If you want to voice your opinion but couldn't make it out Thursday, you'll have another chance next Thursday, February 16. That meeting is at 6 pm in the Grand Junction High School library.