(ALBION) – Central Noble Schools has announced some immediate and some impending budget cuts.

During a ten minute meeting Tuesday evening, school officials announced the cuts, Which come just a few weeks after Central Noble Schools failed to pass an operating resolution that would have increased the school property tax rate by 19 cents per $100 of net assessed value. That comes out to an estimated increase of $15.64 a month for a $200,000 assessed home.

This proposed resolution was voted down as Senate Bill 1 takes effect.

Central Noble Superintendent Robby Morgan shared Tuesday that these are the first of more cuts to come. He says that because of Senate Bill 1, the District stands to lose about $900,000 in operations funding over the next 3 years.

In the fall, Central Noble fifth graders will be moved from the elementary school building to the junior high building. This will make room for all of the second graders, who will be moving into the elementary building from the Wolf Lake Primary School. Morgan said it’s a preemptive strike to potentially close Wolf Lake Primary School. He said the District has too many students to shut down Wolf Lake right away, but with a trend of less students being enrolled in the District, it may be happening in a few years.

Central Noble also expanded it’s walk zone, which is the area kids are deemed close enough to walk to school. This comes as bus routes plan to be cut. Morgan says the new bus routes should be finalized by the June 16 Board of
Education meeting.

Morgan says three staff positions dissolved, but no one was fired. The Board did approve the resignations of a bus driver, a paraprofessional as well as a part-time child care assistant. There are no plans to replace them. In addition, the role of District receptionist was also dismissed. The person who was in that position is now the District treasurer.

Morgan says the Central Noble Board of Education has introduced the possibility of a four day week as a means to save money. He says this is still being discussed, and they are looking at other Districts that have four day programs to see if it would be a good move for Central Noble.