FAIRMONT – Fairmont grade 3-6 Principal Brian Grensteiner was put on an unrequested leave of absence with no pay at Tuesday’s school board meeting.

The placement was not done due to any disciplinary measure, but rather due to budget cuts faced by the school district. The Operations Committee recommended a 2.5 percent ($693,000) operating expenditure cut for next year’s budget at its March 4 meeting.

Board Member Michael Edman said this is not something the board likes to do, but if they cannot make hard decisions, they shouldn’t be on the school board.

“We don’t have the ability to levee for more money,” he said. “We have to be proactive. I know this is in the best interest of the school given the situation we’re in.”

Superintendent Andy Traetow said there have been cuts over the last few years.

“Over the last three school years we were able to absorb multiple faculty positions,” he said. “Throughout our processes each year we looked at the budget and projected for next year. This is part of that process. Anytime you’re addressing decisions related to faculty they are extremely difficult decisions and ones we don’t take lightly.”

Board Member Dan Brookens said several factors are making the forecast of Fairmont’s finances less clear than normal. The junior class is set to graduate and when they do, the school district’s enrollment will decrease by 30 to 40 students. The bond package passed around a decade ago is struggling to keep up with inflation.

This impact on state funding is also met by uncertainty surrounding the federal funding situation, and what will be there in the upcoming school years.

“We don’t know about a lot of things that shouldn’t be things we have to worry about,” Brookens said. “I am not happy with how our finances are getting pinched, and I’m sure we will have to take action on that in the next couple years.”

Traetow said to meet their target, cuts in other areas will be a necessity as well.

“There will be adjustments in buildings and grounds, curriculum, across all three schools, and to our district IT,” he said.

Board Member Jen Harris commended Traetow for the hours invested in ensuring due diligence was taken.

“He went through every avenue possible to try and figure this out,” she said. “I know it was so hard for him to do that. We tried everything to keep him in the budget, but unfortunately, we have to make budget cuts.”

Traetow reiterated that the focus continues to be on providing the best experience possible for students within the financial parameters they have.

“While this process has been extremely difficult for many people in many ways, it has been important for us as we build toward the future and continue to focus on providing our students the best possible education experience we can offer,” he said. “We will continue to be thorough in our analysis and strategic in our decisions to successfully support the growth of our students, staff and community.”