The Jaffrey-Rindge School District will retain three unfilled positions after the School Board decided the positions were worth more than the cost savings.
The board discussed three positions – Conant High School part-time media associate, Jaffrey-Rindge Middle School clerical aide, and second shift custodian – at its meeting Monday and then voted 5-2 to fill them this year.
“There may be a time where we have to make a tough decision,” said Forbes Farmer, who was one of the board members in the minority.
“I’m not doubting the importance of these positions, I’d just rather cut a position that is not filled.”
Farmer brought up the discussion at the last School Board meeting, noting that with budget season for the 2017-18 budget approaching, the board should look at open positions to see if they could be cut now, to save the district from potentially having to cut during budget season.
The board also heard from the Route 202 subcommittee, who recommended that the district hold onto property it owns.
The 100-acre lot on Route 202 has been unused since its purchase in 1989. The property was considered as a potential site of a new high school, but the idea never came to fruition.
The ten-member subcommittee is preparing a final report, but issued a number of recommendations.
Among the recommendations: keep the lot; explore using the property for educational purposes; determine whether it would be appropriate to cut timber from the property for a profit; and revisiting the property every five years until a more permanent solution has been made.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235.