BARRE, Vt. -
More job cuts. This time at Spaulding High School in Barre,Vermont. The board met several times this week to finalize the budget and after a long process, they have approved what will most likely result in several cuts.
In all 11 positions are expected to be slashed from Spaulding High School.
"Yeah, it's a big chunk," said school Superintendent, John Bacon.
With a school of about 750 students, Superintendent Bacon says finalizing the 2014 budget, started in October, '"We had a rather lengthy school board meeting going over the budget and then a finance meeting last night."
With a budget increase of near 4% Bacon says rising costs aren't helping.
Health care premiums are up 14 % and the average salary raise will inch up by 3% as well.
Bacon says a wide range of positions could be affected, "It was a hard decision and it wasn't just teachers, paraprofessionals and a custodial position and secretary position as well as teacher positions."
In order to make sure students' needs were still met; the board had originally cut a dozen jobs but then added back in an English teacher.
Some of the cuts were made in programs that were really under-enrolled and in areas where student enrollment was strong we maintained the staffing levels.
Bacon says the budget will affect taxpayers in some way and after a lot of hard work he hopes the voters will agree with their decisions, "It's been a team effort and I hope we have good luck with voters in March."
The approved budget will be voted on by the public on town meeting day on March 5th.
