Facing a $1.4 million shortfall in next year’s budget, the Cassopolis Public Schools Board of Education approved a number of budget reductions, including laying off two elementary school teachers, that will save the district about $277,000.

The district currently has a 22 percent fund balance, but if the district doesn’t make any more cuts, that savings account will fall to about 12 percent, according to Business Manager Scott Thomas. The district’s goal is to maintain a 15 percent fund balance, according to Supt. Gregory Weatherspoon.

“We’re able to absorb some of the deficit (with the fund balance). It’s just a matter of how much the board wants,” Thomas said in a presentation to the board Monday.

Some of the cuts approved at Monday’s board meeting included: two elementary teachers ($70,000 savings); two elementary responsible thinking coordinator positions ($18,000); two recess paraprofessionals ($7,000); an elementary library paraprofessional ($7,000); a special education paraprofessional ($24,000); a reduction in hours for school employees association eight-hour positions; and administrative health insurance reductions ($15,000).

Board member Sue Horstmann voted against laying off two elementary teachers.

“I’m not ready to go there yet,” she said. “We need to support that new school (the renovated Sam Adams building). What if we get more kids with the new building?” she said, arguing that class sizes are large enough already.

Members of the public tended to agree with Horstmann during public comment.

Felicia Williams, a parent of three students in the district, disagreed with the cuts to the elementary school.

“I have huge concerns,” she said. “With more kids in one classroom, my child will be overlooked. Some kids need that one-on-one time.”

Her husband, Terry Williams, threatened to remove his children from the district if the board keeps “taking away from the kids.”

“Some of you adults can trim your belts like we do in the working world,” he said. “Don’t cut from the kids.”

Tanya Leach, a parent of two in the district and a substitute teacher for the school system, also complained about the cuts to the elementary school.

“Not only am I a parent … I’m a sub,” she said. “I have to deal with these large classroom sizes.”

Rachele Ward, a teacher who will be at Sam Adams Elementary next year, is also concerned about class sizes.

“I felt like I did a disservice to my kids this year with 30 in my classroom,” she said. “I could do more as a teacher if I had no more than 25. I’m not a miracle worker.”

And more cuts could be on the way.

Weatherspoon discussed cutting the extra curricular budget by 10 percent across the board and privatizing buses or custodial services.

Board member Scott Ward said nothing should be left off the table in terms of cuts.

“We need to trim more,” he said. “We will be a deficit school if we don’t do something quick. We’ve done the easy cuts. We haven’t looked at the tough stuff.”

Ward suggested eliminating the adult education director, curriculum director and network administrator position.