Just a few days after the announcement of Gov. Rick Snyder’s proposed budget for 2012-2013, Niles Community Schools Superintendent Richard Weigel presented an outline of the district’s finances to members of the district’s school board.

During that presentation, Weigel said the district would have to cut $2.7 million from its budget in order to survive what could be severe reductions in state funding and increases in retirement and insurance expenses for teachers.

That was on Monday night.

The following morning, Weigel was on site of the future Niles New Tech Entrepreneurial Academy, a reserved hallway at Niles High School that will be home to the new project-based learning school.

Indeed, the superintendent is not slowing down on moving forward with the new school, which may have many wondering — where is he getting the money?

Having “approached foundations throughout Berrien County,” Weigel said, “we have pledges of up to a half-million dollars.”

Those funds will be distributed to the district for the academy over a period of three to four years, Weigel said.

To get the Niles New Tech Entrepreneurial Academy off the ground, with renovations to facilities, the purchase of new computers and development of instructors by the start of the 2012 school year, Weigel said the district needs only $146,000.

“My additional costs are for the technology, the professional development and the consulting fees,” he said.

That’s where money pledged by several organizations including the Wood, Hunter and Huizenga foundations, the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation and Michigan Works comes in.

Lake Michigan College and Edward Lowe have also both pledged support to the academy.

The superintendent is keeping costs down by hiring teachers for the academy internally, meaning he won’t have to pay for additional salaries.

A portion of the district’s sinking funds, which are used specifically for building upgrades, will be used to upgrade the portion of NHS that will house the technologically-advanced school.

Those teachers chosen to lead the classrooms of the New Tech school will require specific training, and the New Tech Network provides consulting to those schools adopting its program.

A total of 125 new computers will need to be purchased for the school, Weigel said, another cost that will be covered by donations.

The academy will begin its first day of classes in the next school year with 125 freshmen. The same number of computers will be needed the following year and so on, until each of the four grades are furnished with new computers.

With pledges from area foundations, Weigel said he won’t have to use any money from the district’s general fund for the school.

Good news, since the governor’s peek at severe cuts awaiting districts down the line means there won’t be much to spare.