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Superintendent Martha Essenmacher's proposals to reduce the teaching staff next school year and begin the transition to close the middle school will be considered during a special board meeting June 4 at 5:30 p.m.

The proposals are driven by declining enrollment -- which results in less per pupil state aid -- and rising operating costs. Those factors have combined for projected $600,000 deficit in the preliminary 2008-09 budget.

The proposed layoffs, along with other recent cost-cutting measures would reduce the deficit to $200,000. The remaining red ink would be erased by dipping into fund equity, which currently stands at $600,000.

The brunt of the layoffs would fall on the middle school, because of the plan to close the building, said Essenmacher.

"Ten teaching positions are what's on the table," said Essenmacher "We have been looking for and found savings in many other areas. But with declining enrollment and increasing costs we still have a significant budget (shortfall) to overcome."

The middle school currently houses grades 5-8. Under the transition plan, grade 5 would move to Maple Valley Elementary for the 2008-09 school year, and grade 6 would move in 2009-10. Grades 7-8 would also move to the high school in 2009-10. At the end of the transition, Maple Valley would be a K-6 building, while the high school would house grades 7-12.

She added that high school officials would work with parents and other community members to plan the transition to the senior high.

The district wouldn't close the entire middle school building. Officials are thinking about using part of it for a new early childhood center, and for alternative education.

The proposed layoffs, which would reduce the teaching staff from 69 to 59 instructors, would be the latest steps toward cutting the budget. The board has also reduced the support staff by three - one special education aide and two bus drivers, taken steps for more energy efficient buildings, installed bulk fuel tanks, and frozen administrative salaries.

Board members "all know that we have very serious decisions to make," said Essenmacher.

"We have to create a long term plan where we don't continue with this tight budget. A plan that will allow us to grow our fund equity and build stability for our district."

If the building consolidation plan were approved, Sandusky would become the third district in the county to take the step. The Marlette School District is in the process of consolidating buildings, which includes closing Bea McDonald Elementary and using the building for preschool programs, and the Croswell-Lexington District has closed Geiger Elementary and turned the building into an early childhood education center.