HAMILTON TWP. — The painful task of cutting $2 million from the 2002-03 budget was outlined to the Little Miami Board of Education Tuesday by Superintendent Ralph Shell.

        About 100 people attended the board meeting, but no final vote was taken. That could come next month.

        The next round of cutbacks will be addressed at the board's June 18 meeting when personnel is reduced, in the aftermath of voter rejection May 7 of a a 6.9-mill operating levy for the fast-growing southern Warren County school district of 2,855 students.

        Mr. Shell said the bulk of the cutbacks will be in personnel, because 80 percent of the budget is targeted for personnel, 20 percent for operation costs.

        Another feature of the budget cutting plan is pay-to-play for sports and some extracurricular activities. Proposed is a $200 fee per sport for high school students and $185 for junior high sports. Members of the marching band will pay $135.

        In addition, all school buildings will close at 4:30 p.m. effective Aug. 1.

        Mr. Shell outlined these proposed personnel cuts: Three language arts positions, seven teacher aides, five library aides, seven third-shift custodians, three teachers and three aides in the technology department; seven secretaries, 24 coaching positions and 37 co-curricular positions (such as assistant coaches).

        There will also be no textbook purchases in the next year. All overtime would be eliminated.

        The board did not discuss plans to put the levy on the ballot again. They could decide to try to place the levy on the ballot during a special election in August or wait until the November general election.

        Mr. Shell said the changes are necessary if the district is to operate without a deficit.

        He said the decisions will not be popular, since schools deal with two emotional issues, kids and money. The superintendent said he has already spoken to many parents who have concerns about field trips being eliminated, reduction in programs and growing class sizes since the election.

        The levy would have generated $2.7 million, an increase of $1.77 million above the current revenue of $930,000.

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