Carthage School Cuts

The fate of a four-state schools athletic program could be decided tonight. After nearly 2-million dollars in budget cuts. The Carthage school board met tonight to discuss the possibilty of cutting the junior high sports program.After much controversy Carthage school board members have decided to approve the preliminary budget. With teachers incremental raises but without the 7th grade athletics program. The Carthage School district has been forced to cut one-point-9 million dollars from its budget. That`s why school officials decided to cut seventh grade sports. Several 7th grade parents came out to the recent meetings to oppose the possiblity. The 7th grade athletics program itself costs 31-million dollars, so to make up for the loss of the program the parents are hoping to raise the 31-thousand dollars to keep the entire 7th grade athletics program going. 11-thousand of that would need to be raised by July in order to cover the cost of winter sports. To prevent favoritism the group will be giving the money to the school district through the foundation or the booster club. The budget approved tonight is only a preliminary budget which must be in and approved by July 1st. But school officials say they can change the budget at anytime to accomodate their needs as they change. School board members say this is one of the toughest decisions they`ve had to make. Reported By: Courtney Cullor