The Cassopolis Board of Education laid off members of its support staff and teachers, transferred multiple positions and made other budget reductions at its regular meeting at Squires Education Center Monday night.

In a unanimous vote (7-0), the board laid of a 5.5 hour per day adult education paraprofessional, a 5.5 hour per day special education instructional paraprofessional, a two hours per day non-instructional paraprofessional and a 5.5 hours per day library paraprofessional.

“Certainly this is not a time that is easy for any of us,” Cassopolis Superintendent Tracy Hertsel said. “I met with the administrative team many hours trying find what would be the best resolution to help with the deficit budget we are facing right now.

“There things we had to address immediately because the longer they were belabored the larger the debt that would be incurred by the district.”

The board also unanimously approved the layoff of Jenna Hughes, a high school science teacher, as well as Kimberly Holder, a sixth grade teacher and laid off Kelly Hargrove, a junior high math teacher from 31-A funding.

The board transferred Cheryl Graham, an elementary special education teacher, from general fund to 5.25 hours into 31-A funding, Catherine Prestly, an elementary 31-A teacher to an elementary classroom assignment, Glorianna Lang, a secondary special education teach to the elementary, half-time in 31-A.

The board also transferred Dan Purlee, a secondary physical education teacher to elementary and transferred Eric Burns, the elementary physical education teacher to an elementary classroom.

“We are looking at the reduction of some positions, but again, not to compromise any services, but to get the right size staff for the situations that we have.”

Line item budget reductions were:

• Red Brick closure — $15,000

• Copier costs at Ross Beatty Jr./Sr. High School — $7,000

• Teaching supplies at Ross Beatty — $13,000

• Office supplies at Ross Beatty — $5,000

• Library supplies at Ross Beatty — $1,000

• Miscellaneous supplies at Ross Beatty — $2,000

• Ross Beatty assistant principal conferences — $1,500

• Library paraprofessional at Sam Adams Elementary — $8,400

• Library supplies at Sam Adams — $4,500

• Social worker supplies at Sam Adams — $275

• Office supplies at Sam Adams — $1,500

• Copier costs at Sam Adams — $4,000

• Pupil health supplies — $200

In other action, the board:

• Approved an overnight trip for the FFA to the National Convention

• Approved an overnight trip for to the Green and White Hog Show

• Approved an overnight trip for to the FFA State Convention

• Approved an overnight trip for the FFA to Regional Camp

• Had a second reading of the Neola policy No. 6320/athletic uniform language