The Nettle Creek School Board is grappling with a looming budget deficit, holding its second work session in two weeks to map out an estimated $300,000 in cuts to the operations fund for the upcoming school year.

Administrators laid out potential savings ranging from energy use and custodial staffing to squeezing efficiency out of bus routes.

However, the tougher debate lies within the education fund. Board members are weighing teacher professional development against class sizes, which are currently projected to average 25 to 29 students in the middle and high schools. While Superintendent Emily Schaeffer warned that cutting teacher training could hurt student outcomes, several educators in attendance advocated that keeping class sizes small must be the top priority.

No final decisions have been made as the board continues reviewing administrative and staffing structures.