Matt Fritz, The News-Dispatch Staff Writer

NEW PRAIRIE — With its teachers, administration and staff agreeing to a 1 percent pay cut for the 2010-2011 school year, New Prairie School Corp. probably is going to survive its $700,000 budget cut from the state, pending future action by the state legislature, the school superintendent says.

“We’re not anticipating having to make any further cuts,” Superintendent Phil Bender said. “We’re waiting to see what the Legislature is going to do in giving us the opportunity to transfer cash from another fund. If that’s done, then I can pretty confidently say that’s where we need to be. We are in a much better position than most.”

The 1 percent cut will save the district $143,000. But it was only the latest in a series of measures that is allowing the district to bridge the state’s budget gap.

This includes seven retirements, five of which the district has no intention of filling; a reduction in the number of hours and positions for library and health aid assistants; and a reduction in the number of coaching positions.

“We have done everything we could without taking away programs for our kids,” Bender said. “We have really tried to hone in on that. And the 1 percent cut will help us out immensely for next year.”

The New Prairie Teachers Association voted last week to take the 1 percent cut for only the 2010-2011 school year. Association President Mark McBride said, “We left it to a vote, and a majority of the teachers voted for the cut, which will most likely save jobs.”

Bender said the cut will save three teaching positions. If the Legislature ever approves a bill that would allow schools to shift money from property tax funds to other areas of the budget, the district will be in a better position to receive this assistance.