Teachers, Programs Could be Cut From Plum Budget

With a deadline looming, Plum Borough School District officials are still working on closing a $1 million deficit from its 2013-14 school year budget—and they're considering cutting positions and programs.

During a school board education committee meeting on Tuesday, officials recommended cutting a total of 21 employees. According to the Plum Advance Leader, those include 14 positions at the high school, six at the junior high and one at the elementary school level.

The Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), Plum TV Production, business education and family consumer sciences could be cut at the high school. French, Spanish and computer instruction could be cut at the junior high. Officials also proposed that technology education at all schools be eliminated, according to the Advance Leader.

Last year, the board agreed to cut the junior high Family & Consumer Sciences and high school Drivers' Education programs.

The school board started the budget process with a $4.3 million deficit. After making several cuts throughout the months—included in some of those cuts were a reduction in salaries for employees under the transportation union, a possible layoff and the elimination of the district's participation in the Boyce Campus Middle College program—that deficit was reduced to $1 million.

At last month's finance committee meeting, dozens of students and parents spoke out against cutting school programs and BCMC. They urged officials to find a way to keep the programs in the budget, stressing the important role they play in the students' lives.

The budget, as it stands, does not include a tax increase. The school board is expected to adopt a preliminary budget during a special voting meeting following its May 22 finance committee meeting. it currently is scheduled to be held at 6 p.m. at the board room at the high school. Officials have until the end of June to approve a final budget.

What are your thoughts about the possible teaching/program cuts? Do you agree or disagree? Tell us in the comments.

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