The Champaign Unit 4 School District, in line with several other districts in the area, will be making cuts to its 2010-2011 budget.

“We’re not in this alone,” said Gene Logas, chief financial officer for the district. “We’re in the same shape as every school district in the state.”

The budget cuts have been reduced from an original list of $4 million to $2.3 million, focusing on taking impact away from the classroom. The decision was made by the Champaign School Board of Education with input from the superintendent, school principals and community .

“Anytime we’re forced to make cuts, unfortunately there is going to be an impact on the educational process,” Logas said. “We wanted to keep the cuts as far away from the classroom as we possibly could.”

Specific cuts include the reduction of food purchases at district events and a freeze on administration salaries, Logas said.

He added that over half of the cuts being made will not affect staff next fiscal year.

President of the Champaign School Board of Education Dave Tomlinson said the board originally planned to cut 40 teachers and have reduced that number to four.

Logas said an original list of budget cuts included elimination of the fourth and fifth grade band programs.

“There was significant community input on that one,” Tomlinson said. “As politicians, it’s important we listen to the community, and the community spoke against cutting it.”

He added that a Facebook group of about 1,700 people has formed in favor of saving the band and strings programs.

“There were a lot of things on the original list that are no longer moving towards the final list,” Logas said.

Logas said large state cuts are one reason the district will be making changes to the budget.

“We’ve been told by the state superintendent that next year will be a catastrophe for K-12 funding, so we have to prepare for that,” he said.

Logas added that the district must cut its budget because of the effects of the recession and reduced growth in property taxes from tap caps.

“We have spent down our rainy day fund to a point where we have to react,” he said. “We are no different than any other school district in the state of Illinois or in the U.S.”

Logas said the board must cut expenditures to protect the long-term solvency of the school district.

He added the board expects to generate $435,000 in revenue enhancements, which will include the sale of land at two district sites at Barkstall and Dr. Howard elementary schools. Tomlinson said these lots are currently not in use by the district.

Gillian Sandler, senior in education and student teacher at Carrie Busey Elementary school, said she was happy the music program will not be cut.

“The cuts are unfortunate, but if they’re avoiding a direct impact on education, it’s the smartest way to go about it,” Sandler said.

She said that as a future teacher, the budget cuts are intimidating.

“It’s unfortunate that we’re in this position,” Logas said. “We’ve worked very hard to be good financial stewards.”

The final list of cuts will be finalized by the board at a meeting March 8.