USD 410 faces $300,000 in cuts due to funding

Unified School District 410 faces the fiscal dilemma encountered by school districts across the state?making significant budget reductions that likely will impact personnel, operations and extra-curricular activities.

Superintendent Steve Noble told Board of Education members at Monday?s regular meeting that the district will have to reduce its budget by $475,000.

While part of the reduction can be accomplished by using $175,000 of operating reserves, Noble said, the remaining $300,000 needs to come in the form of cuts.

Noble presented budget cutting considerations identified by the leadership totaling $360,300.

?None of these are cuts have been decided,? Noble said. ?They are up for discussion.?

Among the potential cuts are reductions in instructional materials and equipment purchases, technology support, transportation and personnel positions as well as possibly eliminating some athletic programs.

Several attended the meeting to express their concerns about potential cuts, including Scott O?Hare, who teaches science and coaches wrestling at Hillsboro High School.

Hillsboro Middle School wrestling is one cut under consideration.

O?Hare spoke to board members about the impact cutting sports programs would have on students whose motivation to stay in school is directly tied to their participation activities such as wrestling.

O?Hare asked the board to consider the number of students served by wrestling who don?t have alternate outlets.

The board, who made no decisions regarding budget cuts, and Noble are planning to hold a ?town hall conversation? with the public at Gordon Mohn Center at Hillsboro Elementary School later this month. Details will be published once the date is finalized.

Full coverage of Monday?s board meeting will be posted on the Free Press Web site and in next week?s paper.

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