Saline Area Schools not projecting a budget deficit for the 1st time in 4 years

The Saline Area Schools will not have to make draconian cuts to balance its budget for the 2013-14 academic year, unlike many districts in Washtenaw County.

And for the first time in four years, Saline will be able to put a little money — an estimated $205,000 — back into its savings, according to a report by the Saline Post.

The Ann Arbor Public Schools, meanwhile, has issued layoff notices to 233 teachers and could be closing middle school pools, eliminating high school transportation and discontinuing students' seventh-hour options at its comprehensive high schools.

The Post says Saline has run a deficit eight times in the last 12 years, including in each of the previous four years.

School officials said in the Post that a significant factor in the district's healthy budget situation for fall is the housing market boost and more families moving to Saline, which has caused the district's enrollment to be better than projected.

The situation this budget cycle is drastically different than last spring, when Saline schools asked for compensation concessions from its three collective bargaining units and contemplated privatizing the district's support staff.

• Read the complete story in the Saline Post.

Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.