By Joanna Miller, Correspondent

Budget cuts to the tune of $1.1 million became reality Monday, as the Prior Lake-Savage Area School Board unanimously approved the reductions.

Along with anticipated cuts reviewed by the School Board at multiple readings, the district's fifth-grade band program failed to continue do to lack of participation after fee increases. The band needed 150 participants to continue, but only 100 students indicated interest in the program.

Elementary school principals supported removal of the fifth-grade band, as the only other option was to removing teaching positions in already full classrooms, the board stated.

 The only item withheld from the approved budget was increasing walking distances for students to and from school. The board said it wanted to give parents the chance to review walking-distance information before approving that portion. However, it plans to support the change in walking distances in an upcoming vote.

Ninth-grade B-level sports, some high school activities, and middle school activities also disappeared with the approval. After three years of back-to-back budget cuts, the School Board said there weren't other options for trimming the budget.

The programs may be reinstated through donated funds, and Activities Director Mary Haugen has worked with community education staff and private sports and activities programs to replicate options for students.

Other cuts the district approved after public review include not adding staff to accommodate growth, administration cutbacks, increasing student program fees, and closing a swimming pool for a year.

Look for more on the budget cuts online and in the upcoming editions of the Savage Pacer.