Wednesday night, The Board of Education for School District 11 was at it again, talking about slashing the budget to make up for lost state funding.

Adjustments were made to the preliminary budget for programs and departments. There was much debate, for example, trying to keep the summer school program. Unfortunately that program will be eliminated. And five of the district’s nine assistant principals will also be cut.

There is good news, funding has been partially reinstated for counselors and education at the youth detention center. The board is still working out ways to come up with the rest of the cuts.

Kevin Marshall is president of the Colorado Springs Education Association, which represents some 2,000 teachers in D-11. Marshall has made recommendations to the board about ways to keep the cuts away from teachers and staff. "We've compared some surrounding districts and the amount they spend on instructional supplies per student and we spend a lot more than the districts around us," said Marshall. D-11 spends about $300 each year, per each student, on supplies like books and computers.

"That's an area we can look at as well,” said board president Tom Strand. But that doesn't mean pay cuts are off the table. "Possible furloughs, possible pay cuts, where people could take a percentage cut in their pay, might be things we talk about in the coming months," said Strand.

Here's a breakdown of where the budget cuts are in the preliminary budget. About $7 million have been cut from nearly ever program in D-11. Another $3 million or so will be voted on next week. And several support staff positions may be eliminated, which the board is hoping that will be done through either retirements or by leaving positions unfilled. Next Wednesday, the school board will vote on the second half of the preliminary budget.