By BEN KLEINE

Staff writer

The USD 408 Board of Education approved a list of 24 budget cuts for the 2010-11 school year to offset cuts made by the state. The following positions and programs will be eliminated.

• The computer aid position at the elementary school, saving $3,250.
• A third assistant basketball coach, saving $4,000.
• The assistant cross-country coach, saving $1,500.
• The third volleyball coach, saving $2,000.
• A science and aquatic position, saving $32,000.
• A part-time custodial position, saving $16,000.
• Summer school, saving $15,000.
• One assistant high school track coach, saving $2,000.
• The part-time music position, saving $20,000.
• The Elementary/Middle School art position, saving $46,700.
• A part time high school English position, saving $12,000.
• A part-time transportation position, saving $20,000.
• An elementary school teaching position, saving $43,350.
• Senior citizen passes for MHS sporting events, saving $2,000.

Other cuts:

• A custodial position will be reduced by eight hours per week, saving $4,000.
• No custodians will clean after events, saving $15,000.
• Football helmets will be reconditioned every other year instead of every year, saving $1,500.
• Extended contracts will be reduced, saving $8,000.
• The High School Aide position will be reduced, saving $15,000.
• The school increased its mill rate by two mills, saving $57,000.
• The school will charge an enrollment fee, saving $16,500.
• Substitute costs will be reduced, saving $2,500.
• Yearbook pages will be reduced 20 pages, saving $2,000.

The savings add up to $350,000.

“I hate the cuts we had to make,” board member Sarah Cope said. “We had no choice.”

In other business:

• The board voted 5-1, with Keith Collett dissenting, to give Cloud County Community College a serious look at their proposal to teach Marion High School college credit classes. Butler Community College currently offers courses in English, British Literature, and speech three days a week at MHS. MHS principal Brenda Odgers said that Cloud County would offer the same classes in segments of five days per week, a condition Butler has thus far refused. However, Butler teaches the classes live and Cloud County would have to teach their classes through Interactive Distance Learning technology.
• Marj Sandberg resigned as an elementary school teacher, Janice Waner resigned as KEY club sponsor, and Kelly Robson resigned as middle school basketball coach.
• The board voted unanimously to stop spring sports teams from practicing between 6 to 8 p.m. The baseball and softball teams would like to use the batting cage at MES, but the board is holding to the district rule barring teams from practicing after 6 p.m.