06/14/11
by: Jay Roe
The Brookings School Board approves some budget cuts during their
meeting last night, but opts to preserve high school orchestra and
sideline cheerleading.
A crowd of about 40 parents and students attended the meeting, most
speaking out against cutting orchestra.
Board Member Steve Bayer told the crowd the orchestra cut is about
lack of interest -- not about saving money. Bayer says zero students have
signed up for the orchestra.
Some of the parents claimed the recent anonymous donation of $360,000
came with a requirement that the school not cut orchestra. Superintendent
Roger Degroot says the donation had only one requirement and that is if
something is offered this year, it should also be offered next year.
Degroot says the school is willing to try to rebuild the orchestra program by getting
the students and parents together to decide what they want to do.
After hearing from the parents, the board voted unanimously to remove orchestra
and sideline cheerleading from the list of cuts.
Cuts that were approved will impact the high school newspaper, per diem meal costs
for students traveling on activities trips, and an athletic trainer position. They will make
the job a private contractor position instead of part of the school's payroll.
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