School Board discusses possible budget cuts
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Budget cuts were the major topic of discussion at the Tuesday' Harrisburg Unit No. 3 school board meeting. Superintendent Dennis Smith rolled out a plan to cut a necessary $550,000 out of next year's budget, but his plan was met with some concerns from students and parents.
The most hotly debated item on Smith's list of suggested cuts was to move to only one band director in the district, which would save $46,000.
Band Booster President Gloria Tison spoke out against the plan, saying the band is too important to too many students to have only one band director in charge of the entire district.
"I just think the band adds so much to our school," said Tison.
Several parents of students in band, along with several band members, also attended the meeting and spoke out against cutting a band director. Tison said since high school band director Hannah Naas was hired in the district, the size of the high school band has doubled and many band members have received college scholarships.
"No one is suggesting the band goes away," said Smith. "We are simply looking for a more efficient use of time."
Smith's list of suggested cuts also includes moving to only one certified media specialist in the district, cutting a media aide, and eliminating special reading teachers who are not funded with grant money. He also suggested cutting one teacher from the high school, as well as an academic adviser, noon activity coordinators, vocal music stipends and two assistant coaches for the speech team.
In addition, Smith proposed a more traditional schedule for the middle school, which would save the district $200,000.
"There's no pleasure in this at all," said Smith. "It's awful."
Board member Molly Wilson-Dearing thought the board should look at other options for budget cuts, including sports, but Smith thinks cutting sports would be met with too much opposition from the public.
"Eventually we're going to have to make some decisions that people won't be happy with," said board member Matt Winkleman.
Board members seemed uncomfortable with the decision facing them, and invited members of the public to speak at next month's meeting, which will be held on the third Tuesday of the month. The board plans to vote on the cuts at the March meeting.
During the meeting:
--Architect Ed Kerkhover spoke to the board about plans to renovate or rebuild the high school. He proposed a plan that would stay under a board-requested $15 million budget, but the plan would only rebuild the part of the high school that is in the worst condition. Even this minimal renovation will only be possible if the tax referendum passes in the March primary election.
--Robinson Transport won the transportation bid for the Unit 3 School District. They will have a three year contract with the district.
--The board voted unanimously in favor of hiring Marilyn Griffin as an aide with Project 47.