IRON RIVER—The West Iron County Board of Education adopted a proposal to reduce staff for the 2008-09 school year, as a move to generate money needed to operate the middle school, at a special meeting April 8.

Earlier this year, the board approved closing the Bates Early Childhood Center at the close of this school year, and keep the middle school open.

The staff reduction was estimated to result in a savings of $895,700; $784,728 when retirement and unemployment costs were added in.

Included in the cuts:

--Reduce custodial staff to one custodian

--Reduce language arts teacher

--Middle school library aide

--Middle school secretary

--At Risk/Title 1 tutor

--Art teacher, middle school

--Art teacher, high school

--Reading coach

--Elementary principal

--Industrial arts teacher

--Nurse aide teacher

--Nurse aide assistant

--Elementary teacher

--Elementary guidance/Title 1 position

--Three special ed teachers

--One support staff position

The proposal also calls for elimination of freshmen sports, and some modification of classes in K-7 and eighth grade.

Board Member Eric Malmquist moved to table the issue, until the April 15 regular meeting, saying he thought verification of the figures was lacking. The motion was supported by Board President Jim Burklund.

“I’d like to make sure we’re making the right cuts,” Malmquist said.

Board Member Mike Johnson said that, having gone over the figures, “I think they’re accurate.

“I know it’s a very bleak picture,” he added.

“It’s a $900,000 pill to swallow,” Malmquist responded, “and I don’t see the documentation and verification behind it.”

Superintendent Richard Burby noted the list of reductions “was only the starting point.

“It can be altered at any time by the board,” he said, adding that he planned to meet with the auditor the next day to review the figures.

The motion to table was denied on a 5-2 vote.

Board Member George Orchard, in moving to accept the reductions, said, “This is the best, at this point, that we can do.” The motion was supported by Beth Vezzetti.

“All the schools up here are going through the same issues,” said Board Member Dennis Tousignant. “We’re one of the last schools to hang onto freshman sports.

“Listen to what’s happening in the other schools,” he added.

The motion to accept the cuts was carried, 5-2.

In a second agenda item, the board approved a recommendation to terminate the U.P.net Internet program, selling the interest and client base back to Baraga Telephone, for about $4,300. UP.net customers will not see any change in service from the action.