HILLMAN — Five people were recalled from layoff on Wednesday by the Hillman Community Schools Board of Education, while laying off a full-time academic support adviser and voting down layoff of a social studies teacher.

Three elementary classroom paraprofessionals, a paraprofessional, and a substitute paraprofessional were recalled after being laid off last week.

Laid off last week were a cook, an elementary playground paraprofessional, four elementary instructional paraprofessionals, and two instructional paraprofessionals. The district is working to overcome a budget shortfall caused mostly by declining enrollment.

Superintendent Carl Seiter said adjustments were made in the district’s Title and at-risk budgets to have the paraprofessionals recalled. He said the Title budget equals $137,800 and bringing back those people will cost about $50,000. Title funds come from the federal government and don’t impact the district’s general fund.

The three elementary classroom paraprofessionals, Lisa Snyder, Carrie Sobeck, and Lisa Zimmer, were recalled because of funds in the Title budget. Elizabeth Gross was recalled as a three-hours-a-day classroom paraprofessional, and Jean Manning was recalled as a paraprofessional to substitute through early October to complete early retirement qualification status.

“This is extremely difficult,” Seiter said. “I don’t take any of these decisions lightly. This is what I have to do to recommend to the board to maintain financial stability.”

The board laid off a full time academic support adviser on Wednesday, saving the district approximately $71,032.

A vote to eliminate a secondary social studies teacher position failed 3-3. Board President Kelly Burwell, Secretary Lorilee McGee, and Trustee Donna Tucker all voted against the vote in favor of exploring other options for cuts.

The social studies position would have saved the district about $58,377. If it would have passed, the junior/senior high school would have had two social studies teachers, instead of three. A few years ago, the district had only two secondary social studies teachers and board members said Wednesday that did not go well.

An industrial arts position was originally supposed to be eliminated instead of a secondary social studies teacher. Seiter said the change occurred because district administrators discussed what would impact student schedules the least.

The board will hold a special meeting at 1:30 p.m. Sunday to discuss more budget reductions. The district has to give 30-day notice to professional staff because of a union contract, which would be Monday.

The agenda for that meeting will include discussion on different items, including the band/music program, the industrial arts program, the secondary social studies teacher position, sports transportation, and others.

“The longer we draw this out, the more we’re impacting some people’s lives,” Seiter said.

Julie Goldberg can be reached at 989-358-5688 or jgoldberg@thealpenanews.com. Follow her on Twitter @jkgoldberg12.