On March 13, Marcellus Central School District Superintendent Dr. Craig J. Tice handed out 47 reduction-in-force letters to instructors whose positions could be cut in the 2012-13 school year. On top of that, nine more letters were handed out to teacher assistants, bringing the total number of possible cuts to 56 people.

“Even one job loss tears at the fabric of our tight-knit community of learning and collaborating,” Tice said in a press release. “Unfortunately, the district is forced into the unenviable position of trying to do more with less, as state aid continues to shrink and costs rise. These are difficult and keenly felt decisions for us.”

The board of education isn’t scheduled to adopt the 2012-13 budget until April 20, but the early notices came because the teachers’ union contract states the district must notify faculty of the proposed cuts by March 15.

The district is facing about a $2.8 million budget gap. This year’s budget is $29,993,883; the district has not yet proposed a budget for 2012-13.

This doesn’t necessarily mean 56 positions will be eliminated. In 2011-12, 48 people received the same letter, but just 11.7 full-time positions were slashed. The year before, 46 got the letter, but only 3.3 full-time positions were cut.

The press release also stated the district will have to raise more revenue through property taxes, as well as decrease costs through staff and program costs. It will also have to dip into reserve money set aside for unemployment, retirement contributions and other staff-related costs.

Neil Benjamin Jr. can be reached at [email protected].