Huron City Schools announces cuts for the 2021-2022 school year

HURON – At Tuesday’s Huron Board of Education meeting, the board approved a cost reduction plan for 2021-2022 school year.

According to Treasurer Randy Drewyor, the cuts are a result of the May 4, 2021 Huron City Schools tax levy failing. The cuts will go into effect for the 2021-2022 school year. Below is a summary of the cuts:

• An English Language Arts teaching position at McCormick Junior High School will not be filled. The position was left vacant to a retirement. The savings from not filling the position is estimated to be $100,000.
• A pay to participate will be implemented. Students will now have to pay a fee to participate in clubs or sports. The fee for high schools sports is $125. The fee for junior high sports is $75. The fee for academic clubs is $50. These fees are estimated to bring in an estimated $40,000.
• Multiple transportation services will be cut. Transportation will no longer be provided to 9th – 12th grade students. Neighborhoods will now have centrally located bus stops. Building start and dismissal times will be changed. These changes will result in one bus driver position being eliminated.
• Administrator contribution to medical, dental, and vision insurance will be moved up 15% to 17.5%.
• School counselor, custodian, and bus mechanic positions will be eliminated due to retirements. One full-time library tech position will be cut to two part-time positions.

Drewyor also said that the district will likely seek another levy in November 2021 and, if it fails in November, May 2022. When asked by board members John P. Jones and Jody Mast, Drewyor said that if a levy is approved in November, the pay to participate could be eliminated in the 2021-2022 school year; however, the previous transportation plan would not return until the 2022-2023 school year.