BUTLER TWP — With more than 40 students not scheduled to take their requested Latin class this fall, the Butler School District will seek to hire a part-time Latin teacher.

The school board voted 8-1 Monday night to post the position when Brian Slamecka, assistant superintendent of secondary education, outlined options to alleviate the situation to the board. Board member Bill Halle voted no.

For this school year, the district had 365 students requesting to take Latin, but it only has two Latin teachers, Linda Russell and James Kasparek, according to Slamecka. With 12 class sections and a new class cap at 28 students, the district can only accommodate 336 students.

Last year, some classes had up to 35 students, Kasparek said, and the administration warned the board of an expected increase in the Latin program.

This spring, the school board cut a recommended position for a third Latin teacher to reduce the budget deficit.

The posted position will be for a part-time Latin teacher, costing $51,800.

Hiring a full-time Latin teacher would cost $81,000, according to figures presented by Slamecka.

The recommendation from Superintendent Dale Lumley was to hire a part-time Latin teacher, using money earmarked for a half-day kindergarten teacher at McQuistion Elementary, a position that will not be needed.

Halle said the decision to hire another teacher will hurt the district’s financial position, stressing that the funds for a Latin teacher are coming out of a budget that already has an estimated $4.2 million deficit. That teacher will be a continued cost for the district unless future furloughs or program cuts come.

“You hire a full-time position, you’re going to be paying that for a long time unless you cut, you furlough a position,” Halle said. “The financial impact is compounding. We’re not looking at $50,000. We’re looking at that plus the next 20 years and a budget that’s $4.5 million dollars in debt.”

Board member Jennifer Cummings also said that hiring a new teacher might only worsen the financial problems of the district.

“We are incrementally increasing staff we can’t afford instead of finding innovative ways (to raise revenue),” she said.

John Wyllie, principal at the high school, told the board that cutting programs or classes will only force those students to take other classes or study halls.

“The problem will not go away,” Wyllie said. “In a year, in two years, we are not going to have fewer requests for Latin.”

But Halle said, at some point, cuts will be on the horizon.

“At some point, cuts are coming. It’s not going to be whether we want to or a choice. We’re increasing the largest part of our budget, salary and benefits,” he said.

But keeping strong programs in the district is important for providing solid educational quality, others argued.

Board member Al Vavro said, “The one thing that’s going to chase parents and kids out of this district is cutting programs.”

The board is expected to vote Monday on filling the position.