(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake school board voted unanimously Wednesday night to slash slightly more than a million dollars from next year’s budget in an effort to get the district out of the red.
A number of faculty, coaching and some administrative positions were on the chopping block. Among them, one K-6 teacher; one school nurse; six other individuals who resigned or took early retirement; one custodian; a reduction in textbook materials; raising book fees $10 per student; eliminating driver’s ed (parents would need to contract); dean of students for the middle and high schools; up to six classroom associates; and one media position…among many others.
The reductions total 1,086,028-dollars.
While Tuesday’s failure of the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy was a factor in some of the cuts, School Board President Beth Will told KUOO news they haven’t ruled out the possibility of putting the levy back on the ballot later on.
Superintendent Doug Latham says the cuts that were approved Wednesday night will now be factored into the upcoming fiscal year’s budget, which the board will review and act on at its next regular meeting, Monday, April 14th.
No public comment was taken at Wednesday night’s meeting from a large crowd that again filled the high school gym.
