Bethany Tabb, Courier-Times Staff Writer

KNIGHTSTOWN - No teachers were cut in a cost-saving measure passed by the Charles A. Beard Memorial School Board Wednesday night. But three other employees, including the transportation director, lost their jobs, and several others will take hits to their paychecks.

Board members were divided on Supt. Gary Storie's recommendations to cut costs. Board members Wade Beatty and Leah Kopp voted no in a requested role-call vote and were outnumbered 4-2.

Storie said the corporation must trim costs because of state cuts to the general funds of all schools. He said Knightstown took a hit of about $416,000, or 4.6 percent of its general fund.

Last month, he presented the board with recommendations for making the necessary cuts. At that time, it included eliminating four teaching positions.

On Wednesday, though, Storie said some of those recommendations had changed as a result of discussions with board members and staff. Instead he recommended cutting a high school aide at about $15,000, a custodian at about $40,000 and the transportation director at about $50,000.

He said cutting the transportation director caused him "a great deal of anxiety" because of the amount of work it would shift to other positions, including his own.

"I don't want to do this, but I have a duty to the board to make sure that you operate within your means," he said. "... This first go-around, I think we've stayed away as much as we can from the classroom."

No other positions were cut, but Storie suggested cutting hours from several positions, including one hour from the second and third shifts. He also recommended reducing a few days from some extended contracts.

Other cuts included cutting expenditures, increasing energy efficiency and transferring certain funds from the general fund to property-tax supported funds.

All cuts are effective March 1 except the custodian and transportation director, which are effective June 30.

Storie said that earlier on Wednesday, he'd received a proposal for outsourcing the transportation department that could save more than $100,000. He said it was an intriguing plan but he hadn't had time to research it yet.

Beatty asked that cutting the transportation director be put off until Storie researches that possibility. But board member Steve Dalton moved that the board accept Storie's recommendations.

Board member Mark Fort said it was nothing personal, but he didn't think CAB needs a full-time transportation director. He said other schools have a mechanic or a principal do the same duties.