Superintendent of Schools Brian De Sorbe explained to residents who spoke briefly at the meeting that he did not recommend cutting any programs, and believed the students would be well served academically even with the larger class sizes and staffing cuts, which include approximately ten teaching positions and five reading positions. "We are no longer a remedial district, and our student achievement continues to rise because of a host of reasons," he said. "We cannot look at strategies that failed in the past or that are not applicable now."

The board has already approved the total contingency budget and agreed to increase class sizes to a maximum of 24, but some board members expressed concern that cutting teachers would result in the district’s taking a step backward. Trustee Michelle Sikhrangkur specifically said she believes that the district’s first responsibility is academics. If that means the board has to cut non-mandatory programs such as sports to protect the academic programs under its contingency budget, then the board has an obligation to do that she said.

"We can’t tell a child who is having trouble reading that they can’t get the support they need because another student wants to play football," Sikhrangkur said two weeks ago.

De Sorbe and the other administrators maintain that the plan presented is not only academically sound but also gives students the incentives they need—music, art and sports—to come to school. "You have asked us for our professional opinions and we have given you our professional opinions," he said. "This is a budget that will serve our students well."

Several residents spoke at the meeting last week asking the board not to cut sports, music or art. They said that while they are not mandated programs, they give students a reason for going to school and would, indirectly, impact on academics if eliminated.

"You have to look at things as a whole and this (cutting sports) would hurt kids," said Al Lorenzana, a soccer and basketball coach in the district. "I have seen the difference you can make in a student’s life by giving them something extra." Lorenzana said he would be willing to volunteer as a coach if necessary to preserve sports.

Several students also attended the meeting, hoping the board would make its final decision that night, which did not come. Travis Hunter, a school wrestler and the new editor of the high school newspaper, agreed that extra-curricular activities are important. "I understand how difficult it is for the board to make these decisions, but these programs are important too," he said.

Chris Nehring, who will be a senior in the fall and who plays baseball called the district’s athletic program "a tradition," and said cutting it would also hurt students academically.

"If we don’t play, we don’t get the opportunity to be seen by college scouts and we will lose the our chances for scholarships," he said.

"And we don’t get the chance to participate and put that on our transcripts," added Hunter. "These programs are important too, especially when it comes to applying for college."