By Patrick Tepoorten
The real-world effects of the North Branch Area School District's $2.5 million in cuts to the 2007 - 2008 budget were front and center at the regular meeting of the school board on May 10. In all, 19 staff positions were done away with.

Of those, five were teachers; one from the primary, high school, and Sunrise school, while the middle school lost two teachers. District support staff was reduced by 14 positions.

School board director Donna Setter was visibly upset by the cuts to staff, calling them "extremely sad," and noting that, with such significant cuts, there was little doubt students would be affected.

Also approved as a result of budget adjustments was a three-year contract with Provide Care to provide behavioral health services and space for the North Gate location. Superintendent Rodney Reisnouer called the contract necessary because many special education students who now receive services outside the district will be returning next year in an effort to reduce costs.

A bid from J.C. Environmental in the amount of $68,500 was approved to complete the removal of asbestos from the primary and Main Street schools. In light of the general fund cuts and perceived sensitivity to district spending, Reisnouer was quick to point out that the funds for the project will come from the district's health and safety budget, which is dedicated strictly to that area. The board called a special meeting for May 17 to discuss further capital expenditures for 2007 - 2008.

In other district news:
• Setter informed the board that the season for contract negotiations with the North Branch Education Association (NBEA) has arrived. She indicated that the board has heard from the teachers' union, but negotiations have not yet begun. The NBEA did express to her a desire to adhere "interest based bargaining principles" but to attempt it without the services of a state facilitator.
Interest based bargaining is a more collaborative method of bargaining that attempts to create a win-win environment for both bargaining units.