Chelsea Bossert/Daily Mining Gazette From left, Hancock Schools Superintendent Chris Salani, Board School Board Secretary Emilie Lancour and Board President Michael Lancour field visitor comments and discuss the future of the Hancock School Public Library.

HANCOCK — The Hancock School District School Board allocated $30,000 to the Hancock School Public Library, but outlined the financial challenges facing the district. In a crowded Hancock High School board room Monday evening, a crowd gathered to show support for the library. After considerable discussion, the board authorized Superintendent Chris Salani to allocate $30,000 to the library indicating that additional funding will come from other sources.

Salani and Business Manager Jeff Klein outlined the deficit facing the district during a budget hearing prior to the regular meeting.

Salani said if enrollment stays the same relative to last year and assuming per-pupil allocation from the state remains between $10,300 – $10,550, depending on legislative approval, — he will remain “conservatively optimistic” the district will decrease its deficit. He added the projected deficit for next year would be about $236,000. The board approved next school year’s budget unanimously. The board approved new hires, contracts and tenure.

The last action item was discussion on the library budget. Salani spoke about the circumstances surrounding the previous few months of discussion with the Portage Lake District Library — who currently manages the Hancock Library.

“We want to be able to have the assets and resources available to our students,” Salani said. “Over the course of the last 10 years, in particular, the last eight where we’ve had this partnership. The balance has changed as far as how we can operate, fiscally being responsible with the services and support we provide to the students — specifically as the district.”

Salani explained he developed a model for understanding how much funding is needed to support students through library services. He said he came to the conclusion the district would need to allocate $30,000 to help run the library and keep it open.

“We’ve equivalated to about the cost of $30,000 a year to be able to support that for just our students, keeping help and having resources,” he said. “So my recommendation is to be able that space at that $30,000 level, with a request to the Hancock Public School Foundation for the additional amount that they’ve helped support.”

Salani said he needed additional information regarding the up to $25,000 Hancock City Council pledged to give to the library earlier this month. He added if all parties agree on allocating funding, the Hancock Library could run with a cumulative $70,000 budget — for either a full or partial year of operation.

“Because the last thing we want is just a Band-Aid,” he said. “It’d be great if all of a sudden we got 85 new students that come back to the district, because we have 130 of them don’t attend, who could be here — we know that,” Salani stated referring to students residing in the district but attending other schools due to school of choice.

Salani said he is thankful for the community showing interest and supporting its library. Many supporters voiced their concern during the visitor’s comments portion fearing for librarian Boni Ashburn’s employment status would be in jeopardy with any budget cuts. Portage Lake District Library Board of Directors President Sylvia Matthews was present and said she is in favor of a short-term between PLDL and the school district.