UNION SPRINGS -- Never in Linda Rice's three years as superintendent had she seen roughly 15 members of the public attend a Union Springs Central School District budget hearing.

But when it comes to possibly cutting a position, especially since it rarely happens, students and parents affected by it tried to intervene during Thursday evening's hearing.

Rice and the school board presented the proposed 2007-2008 $16.93 million budget which includes the elimination of one music teacher and one Academic Intervention Services position.

A large portion of the two-hour hearing concerned the elimination of the music position currently held by Gerald Fitzgerald, who teaches instrumental music in the middle and high schools.

Rice explained that the decision of eliminating the district's fifth music position came after much discussion but was decided based on declining enrollment, staffing needs and needs of district and state mandates.

"We need to get in compliance with the state," Rice said.

Currently, with five music teachers all certified to teach instrumental and vocal music in kindergarten through 12th grade, classes are doubly scheduled to provide enough class time for the overstaffed department. Meanwhile, the district isn't providing the required 120 minutes of weekly physical education classes for kindergarten through sixth grade mandated by the state, Rice said.

By eliminating one position, the same amount of class time will be ensured for art, music and library, Rice explained.

Read the full report in Friday's edition of The Citizen.