(Host) Rutland City’s School board faces tough budget choices.
As VPR’s Nina Keck reports, proposed cuts in the high school’s drama department have caused an uproar.
(Keck) Rutland City School Superintendent Mary Moran says even with no increases to the school budget, the city property tax rate will still go up 10.4 percent. So she says school administrators have been asked to propose cuts.
One particularly contentious one includes dropping Rutland High School’s two day-time drama classes for a $61,000 savings.
(Moran) "What we’re talking about is courses that are offered during the day that are currently under-enrolled. Which is unfortunate, but the numbers are smaller than they need to be to justify the teaching position as it currently is."
(Keck) Moran says the after-school theater program and staged productions would continue.
But many former students and community members say the cuts are shortsighted and would weaken the school’s arts department.
For VPR News, I’m Nina Keck in Rutland.