MERRILL, Wis. (WSAU) – Merrill school board members have given preliminary approval to $1.4 million dollars in cuts for next year.
School board members presented preliminary cuts for the 2013 budget at a public hearing last night and made some changes. School board president Bill Jaeger says the most major cut added is the complete freeze of all salaries for next year. “That's around 236-thousand dollars in cuts for next year.”
A number of cuts were taken off the budget in response, including high school boys hockey and the parochial locations for the 4K program. In addition, Maple Grove and Pine River elementary schools will remain open next year though in changed capacities. Maple Grove is being rebuilt as a charter school and Pine River will house the district's Head Start programs. Jaeger says that one is important. “We'll have an actual school for them now. They'll have a lunch room and class rooms and a gym and place to stay.”
This is just a preliminary budget, and more changes are likely to come as the year progresses. The next major step will be a revamping of the school's teacher's handbook and the modification of the district's insurance and benefits policies.
