Monica Joseph, Goshen News

NAPPANEE — “It’s not a lot of money, but it’s a start,” was Wa-Nee School Board member Christina Eshelman’s opinion right before voting for a 2 percent cut in salary for board members and administrators that will save the district $13,900.

Board members Eshelman, Eric Brown and Don Lehman voted for the 2 percent salary cut, while Cletis Miller and Ed Moser voted against it at their Monday night meeting.

Miller said he had no problem taking a pay cut from his an annual stipend of $1,960 a year before taxes.

“If they don’t pay me at all, that is fine with me,” he said. He does, however, have a problem cutting the pay of administrators, who he believes are already under-paid.

The cut affects principals, assistant principals, Superintendent Joe Sabo, Director of Curriculum Jim Bennett and Business Manager Roger Zentz. The savings is $18,138 per year (minus the board salaries, which were not figured in), but at three months into the year, the savings will be $13,900 after the April 1 start date.

The school board members and administrators have been working to cut around $350,000 from the budget to make up for shortfalls in state funding.

The 2 percent cut from administrators and board members is part of the first round of cuts. The second phase of cuts is likely to have a similar reduction for all classified workers — secretaries, Prime Time assistants, media staff, cafeteria staff, custodial staff and bus drivers — anyone without a teaching license. Those cuts will have to wait until the next school year, however, as most of the people are under contract.