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"That is absolutely good news, in this time of economic woes and cuts in state funding, that we can balance our budget without cutting programs," said CPS Superintendent Harold Titus.

The CPS Board on June 29 approved its final budget amendment for 2006-07, with revenues of $5.18 million and expenditures of $4.84 million, to end the year with a $749,572 fund equity.

The board also adopted the 2007-08 budget. The non-homestead tax for operations will remain at 18 mills. Next year's revenues were set at $4.814 million, a decline from last year, largely due to an expected decline in student enrollment.

Titus said next year's student enrollment is expected to decline by 26 students, which represents a $190,000 loss to the district.

Also because of this decline and cost-cutting measures, expenditures are projected to decrease to $4.812 million, leaving a $751,404 fund balance, which is about 15.61 percent of the district's total budget.

"It is the first time in the past four years that we have not seen a deficit. Our budget is balanced," Titus said.

In other business, the board:

- Conducted an annual evaluation of Titus, giving him an overall rating of 4.47 on a scale of 1-5, with 4 being "excellent" and 5 being "distinguished."

Titus, who serves the district part-time at 20 hours a week, was graded in such areas as understanding his field; efficiency in coordinating the district; confidence; community relations and participation; listening, decision making and delegating.

Titus' current contract expires in June 2009.

- Approved a $45,000 contract with Thumb Education Services, a private educational contracting firm, to rehire Ann Binienda as part-time high school principal until June 2010. Binienda retired as high school principal this year and now works for TES. The move will save the CPS district $75,000 a year in fringe benefits, such as health insurance, which now is paid by the contracting firm.

- Appointed Anna Lopez to serve not only as high school counselor, but as director of student services two days a week. The additional duties will require her to assist Binienda's office on days when the principal is not there. For this service, she will be paid an extra $60 day for 72 days, or $4,320 in addition to her regular salary.

- Approved appointing Dawn Titus as special education director/teacher consultant, replacing Candy Noelke, who retired this year. Titus will assist special education students who attend general education classes, but still require services and monitoring, a position mandated by the state. Titus will work 40 days instead of 60 days a year, which will save the district about $5,000. She performs the same service for the Marlette and Brown City school districts.

Titus said that together, the three cost-saving measures will more than offset the recent hiring of Jeremy Macejewski as director of special services, who will be paid $60,000 for assisting students who don't specifically qualify for state or federal aid, but still are struggling educationally.

-Approved a two-year contract for Transportation Coordinator Kim Cunningham. Cunningham is to receive a one percent raise per year, which is consistent with all other employee contracts.

That completes all contract negotiations until June 2009.

-Approved a one-year $12,000 contract with KG Technology LLC to provide consultation services on how to expand the district's use of its Power School Program. The program now allows teachers and parents to access their children's records daily via computer. The district would like to expand the system's use to allow teachers to report to the state via computer instead of by hand, analyzing student needs more specifically by examining test scores, and other uses, Titus said.