As budgets were discussed during a closed school board meeting Monday night in Blueberry, several concerned parents gathered to show their support for Fruitvale Elementary School's (FES) vice principal Brian Baldwin.
Over the last few years vice principal positions at elementary schools have been removed as a cost-saving measure and while no official verdict has been reached, FES's Baldwin may be next on that list.
What some parents are worried may happen is Baldwin will leave FES altogether but Darrel Ganzert, board chair for School District 20 says that isn't the case.
“It would be a really rare set of circumstances that would not allow (Baldwin) to remain in (FES).”
Efforts to contact district superintendent Greg Luterbach were unsuccessful and FES principal Brian Stefani wouldn't comment on any potential changes.
Ganzert said FES was, in the past, the largest elementary school by far but that is no longer the case and that it is now only slightly bigger than other schools.
Given the current situation he said, in respect to the budget it no longer makes sense to keep that many administrative positions around.
“That's the saddest part about the budget cuts. We really should be putting vice principals in all the elementary schools but realistically, we just can't afford to do that,” Ganzert added.
The school district will be holding its regular meeting on Monday and the budget meeting will be held April 22, both at Trail Middle School.