BERNE — The general fund budget still projects deficit spending for the 2015-16 school year. But because of staff reductions and other adjustments the overruns have been drastically cut.

South Adams School Board on Tuesday approved reduction in force notices for two teachers and accepted two retirements, bringing the total budget cuts for the year to an estimate of more than half a million dollars.

The board also heard about the planning process for E-learning days.

Board members gave the OK to issuing reduction in force notices for fifth grade teacher Courtney Butcher and physical education teacher Aimee Lucabaugh. They voted to eliminate the part-time school nurse position that was held by Jeni Hirschy.

They also accepted retirements from Jane Minch, a 52-year teaching veteran, and Tom Huffman, who had served as a custodian for 24 years. Those were in addition to the retirements of Lora Flueckiger (first grade), Kathi Drake (guidance counselor) and Marty Goller (third grade) that it accepted at its June 2 special meeting.

South Adams had offered a retirement incentive of $15,000 to teachers and counselors, and the retiring staff members will not be replaced.

Those moves together are projected to save the school corporation nearly $520,000 for the upcoming school year.

Other savings are projected at $54,664.93 by transferring some positions to be paid out of Title I instead of the general fund, $30,000 for transferring utility costs for the kitchen and cafeteria to the lunch fund and $9,612 for eliminating four assistant coaching positions.

South Adams was faced with the need for budget cuts after incurring deficit spending of $393,214 in 2013-14 and more than $700,000 this year, dropping the general fund year-end balance to about $1.4 million from $2.28 million at the end of 2012.

It was projected to overspend by another $779,000 in 2015-16 if cuts were not made.

With the retirements, staff reductions and other cost-cutting measures, South Adams is now projected for deficit spending of $166,036.25 for the upcoming school year.
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