Administrators in the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school district have proposed budget cuts of $3.4 million for the 2011-12 school year.

47 JOBS: The cuts, presented to district employees Tuesday, include eliminating the equivalent of more than 47 full-time jobs. District leaders say they can avert an additional $5 million in cuts by using one-time federal education jobs funding.

$8.5M BUDGET GAP: All told, administrators are planning to fill a budget gap of $8.5 million. That figure assumes the state will cut education funding by 3.5 percent next year.

The percentage of expected state cuts -- and the district's anticipated budget hole -- have shrunk in recent months. Last fall, district leaders said they were bracing for state cuts of 7 percent.

Staffing cuts include the equivalent of 27 teachers and 20 administrative and support staff members. Nearly all the teacher reductions stem from the school board's recent decision to change daily schedules at its six middle schools.

Under that plan, the schools will have six periods instead of eight next fall, reducing the number of teachers needed. The change will increase the time students spend in core subjects such as math but decrease the time they spend in some electives.

OTHER MEASURES: Other budget-balancing measures include elimination of figure skating as a high school sport and a $10 increase in fees for high school sports and fine arts activities. Administrators also propose to reduce bus service. Elementary students, for example, would have to live more than a mile from school to ride the bus for free, instead of the current half-mile.

The board is expected to vote on budget cuts March 28.

SARAH LEMAGIE