Saint Johnsbury residents met last Thursday to address concerns regarding an additional proposed budge cut equaling $200,000.

The Saint Johnsbury School Board came up with a deficit plan that would require tax payers to pay $137,000 over the span of five years.

However the new proposed school budget would cut roughly only $200,000. Saint Johnsbury resident, Elwood Cohen, asked the School Board to put more thought into their decision, telling them that they should be putting more thought into what has to be taken out, otherwise they are wasting everybody's time.

The School Board decided to make some personnel cuts. They cut one full time classroom teacher, one full time Para educator, one-half of the special education teachers and they reduced half of the hours of the combined two music teachers. These cuts would all together cut the personnel salaries of $116,000

Lloyd Dugger, a band teacher at the Saint Johnsbury School, is worried how the cut will affect the students and the program. Other residents spoke about how the music program should stay and now board members are reconsidering the cut.

However for the budget to be passed, more cuts are necessary. The next school board meeting will be held at the Saint Johnsbury School on March 23, 2010 at 6:00pm.

News7's Michelle Frizalone brings you more details from the meeting.