Twin Rivers cuts gifted program, coaching positions

BROSELEY, Mo.-- The Twin Rivers Shool District will eliminate its gifted program and assistant coaching positions in the next school year, according to measures approved by the Board of Education at Tuesday's monthly meeting.

Most school districts are looking for ways to save money in their next budget year as they expect to see at least a 4 percent cut in state funding. This will be about $164,000 at Twin Rivers, said Superintendent Mike Stevenson.

Twin Rivers Academic Creative Environment or TRACE served gifted students in grades second through eighth and represents a $25,000 savings for the district. The state will also withhold $25,000 in funding because of the cut.

Nearly $12,000 will be saved by eliminating the five stipends approved for assistant coaching positions, Stevenson said.

Board member Jill Worley questioned the need to remove assistant coaches from the budget, saying it was not that many positions.

There are other areas to reduce expenses, such as mileage, she said.

Worley introduced a motion to keep assistant coaches. It failed 3-4, with only Worley, Heather Eddy and Sonya Dugger approving it. Don Eubanks cast a vote against the measure after questioning which way Bill Hirtz would vote.

A second measure was approved to cut the stipends, Stevenson said.

The board unanimously approved a measure to drop the gifted program.

The district has saved about $171,000 through changes in teaching positions, including through attrition and higher paid staff members retiring, Stevenson said. This figure includes the $25,000 for the gifted program.