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The Board of Education reduced the support staff last week, and plans to cut the teaching ranks as well in attempt to balance next year's budget.

The Sandusky District must reduce expenses by $600,000 for the fiscal year that begins July 1, said Superintendent Martha Essenmacher.

"It's tied to the budget," said Essenmacher. "We're lost considerable enrollment. The projection I'm basing the budget on is 1,220 (students). Two years ago we had 1,312.

"We've cutting one special education aide position and two bus drivers," said Essenmacher about last week's board action. "We're combining (bus routes)."

She's expecting the board to decide on teaching cuts in the next couple weeks, possibly at a special meeting. In the meantime, the proposed budget remains in committee.

"We needed to do the support staff (first) because of contractual time lines we needed to meet. The teaching (contract) timeline is different so we have a little bit more time," Essenmacher stated.

School officials are also attempting to cut costs in ways that don't reduce staff. The board has changed its printing service, installed bulk fuel tanks, taken steps to make buildings more energy efficient, and put a freeze on administrative salaries.

However, "we will not realize that savings ($600,000) without reductions in the teaching staff," Essenmacher said.

"Last night (May 21) the board agreed we'd have a special board meeting in June in order to o that. We can' wait until the (regular) June meeting. There are people's lives affected. If they need to make changes, they need time to do that."

She added, "I'm not proposing cuts that are outside contractual guidelines for class size. Class size will be honored."

In other business, the Sandusky board: