Millersburg School Board delays district-wide cuts

Public asked for input

By Rob Wheary, Staff Writer csrobwheary@gmail.com

cs28millersburg_p1 — ROB WHEARY/Staff Photo Students, parents and staff members pack the Millersburg Area High School auditorium as the school board members discuss a number of initiatives they will undertake to try to eliminate a budget deficit for the 2016-2017 fiscal year, including eliminating some programs and furloughing teachers and staff members.

MILLERSBURG — Residents of the Millersburg School District were given 30 days to come up with some suggestions on how the district can eliminate an almost $2 million budget deficit.
If they can’t, school board members said they will have no problem with making sweeping changes in the district, including eliminating teaching positions, increasing class sizes, and curtailing sports teams and classes.
Inside a packed auditorium, superintendent Thomas Haupt outlined the reason for the sweeping cuts, reiterating several points made at a special board meeting one week prior.
“Our enrollment has drastically reduced over the last eight years,” Haupt told the public.
According to enrollment data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, K-12 enrollment has dropped from 949 students in 2006-2007 to 819 students in 2014-2015.

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