With budget deadlines approaching, Bethlehem Area Sschool District still has a deficit it needs to resolve for the 2014-15 school year.

The district plans to apply to the state to cut 22 teaching positions, which would result in a savings to the district, but would not be enough to overcome the deficit and balance the budget. BASD board members have to seek approval from the state to make the cuts due to program changes because staff cannot be laid off for economic reasons.

Superintendent of Curriculum Dr. Jack Silva hopes to make the cuts at the edge of the academic programs rather than through the heart of them, so as to affect students as little as possible.

With enrollment dropping, the district proposes to reduce the number of elementary classes, along with making other changes to various district programs.

Electives at the high schools will be limited to 20 students per class, and less popular electives will be cut or consolidated. The high school co-teaching program will also be modified. The focus will be on math and English classes while social studies and science will employ a push – in model that supports the subject teacher in differentiating instruction and making modifications and adaptations to the curriculum and instruction.

Core classes will also adhere to a 28-student-per-class cap. The district takes the total number of students enrolled and then divides by 28 to determine how many sections of that class need to be offered.

"This is sacrifice for them and we are trying to keep this from affecting students. We need to keep some space in our budget," said Silva.

The potential furloughs will be discussed further at the next budget workshop, which is scheduled for April 24 at the Educational Center on Sycamore Street.