A spirit of resolve and perseverance could be heard in the voices of people who spoke at the Suttons Bay Board of Education meeting Monday night, when more than $930,000 in budget cuts were outlined for 2008-09.

Although the total impact to staff numbers is difficult to calculate, nearly seven full-time equivalent teaching positions were eliminated from the budget along with numerous support staff positions.

“What do we have left? We have an infant/toddler program … a collaborative staff, a gifted and talented program, math and science technology courses, the ability of students to take courses at NMC (Northwestern Michigan College) and a supportive parent base,” Superintendent Mike Murray said.

Suttons Bay is one of many schools statewide stung financially by a drop in student numbers, which some attribute to the poor Michigan economy. It is a concern in Suttons Bay and many other districts because much of school revenue is based on the student foundation allowance from the state.

If statements made during public comment Monday are any indication, however, Suttons Bay parents will stick with the district during the tough budget times.

“I have four students at Suttons Bay and plan on keeping them here,” said Mary Woods, an active member of the district’s Parent-Teacher Organization. “I’m sorry we’re in this situation. But we’re going to be OK. We’ll have to tighten our belt and carry on. This is a great place to bring your kids. We’ll be just fine.”

Murray and the board’s finance committee, comprised of trustees Tom Nixon, David Buffum and Steve Hall, identified cuts based on a criteria that would keep kindergarten classes small and elementary classes lower than 30, particularly in the lower elementary. No cuts were made to programs that “enhance student achievement,” such as READ 180.

“We wanted to keep programs that attract and retain students,” Murray said. “We tried to equalize the impact across student programs.”

Money-saving suggestions from teachers in the audience included cuts to transportation; a 4-day work week; early retirement incentives; and consolidation of the Montessori administration with that of the traditional K-12 school.

The Montessori program is under the auspices of the district. However, it has Montessori-trained teachers and a separate administrator. The Montessori school’s 10-member staff was reduced by one full-time teacher ,and benefits for a support staff member were eliminated from the budget.

“The Montessori program draws a number of school of choice students,” Murray said.

Budget cuts approved Monday night will not keep Lee Grant from continuing to send her daughter to elementary school at Suttons Bay.

“I’m here to stay through thick and thin,” Grant said.

Janet Send, the retired school bookkeeper, used the value of experience to realize that “this too shall pass.”

“The first year I worked here, we had a fund balance of $23,000,” Send said. “You will overcome this… Suttons Bay School is a great place.”

Murray said as news of the pending cuts spread across the community late last week, there were numerous calls to his office from some teachers whose positions were on the chopping block.

But instead of complaints, there were offers to help train the person who would be taking over their workload.

“What we have left is our pride. Suttons Bay is not too big and not too small. We’re just right … although we could use another 100 students,” Murray said.