Springfield District 186 leaders discussed the nearly $10 million deficit reduction plan Monday night to balance the budget for the next two years.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Difficult choices to close the multi-million-dollar budget gap.

Springfield District 186 leaders discussed the nearly $10 million deficit reduction plan Monday night to balance the budget for the next two years. 

"In the end, we're always going to lose something that we dearly love, and it's just very hard to resonate with," said Superintendent Jennifer Gill.  

Gill said the cuts are necessary to get the district back in good standing. 

"Hard decisions have to be made at certain times. When it relates to the budget. None of this has been easy," Gill said.  

The proposal includes staff displacements and position eliminations, but the goal is to keep the cuts as far from the classroom as possible.

"The district's proposed plan first was to look at trying to get $11 million. And I can tell you, we can't get there. We've tried. It's very, very hard to cut the things that we know really provide services for students," Gill said.  

During public comment, several people voiced their concerns about academic support programs.

"We're also losing critical positions. Strategist, instructional leaders and coaches. These are real positions where people won't be next year, which will probably lead to larger class sizes. That will directly translate to students," said one attendee. 

Long-term planning is made harder with uncertainty over federal funding moving forward, but the board, with this plan, looks to create a $3 million surplus next year. 

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