Jacksonville School Board members were given three options to choose from when it comes to cuts for next year’s budget, and none of them are easy.

Superintendent Les Huddle outlined three levels of reductions at last night’s special board meeting. The first level cuts roughly $1 million from the proposed $2 million dollar district deficit, the second level cuts about $1.5 million and the third cuts the entire $2 million hole.

Among the level one cut is the elimination of Franklin Elementary School’s principal position, as current principal Cindy Hurst is retiring at the end of the school year. Instead of hiring a new staff member, Huddle is proposing Jim Bormann, District 117 Human Resources Director, become a half-time Central Office administrator and spend the other half as Franklin’s building administrator.

Most of the certified staff personnel cuts proposed will be eliminated through attrition. Huddle says the only exception will be a high school French teacher, and that particular instructor is certified to teach in other areas and may be kept on staff.

Huddle also proposed the purging of half of the kindergarten aides in level one and all kindergarten aides if level three is adopted. Board President Mindy Olson applauded Huddle’s effort in following the board’s adopted motto of “reduce before we eliminate,” but isn’t looking forward to making a decision.

She says she’s leaning toward the larger cuts. Board members will reconvene Wednesday for their regularly scheduled meeting, and plan to choose one of the three levels of cuts.