BUTLER TWP — The Butler School Board will consider cutting several teaching positions through attrition and changing other full-time elementary teaching vacancies to long-term substitute positions to help ease a $6 million budget deficit.

Business manager Cathy Rodgers presented an array of scenarios for the 2014-15 budget to board members during the finance committee meeting Monday night.

The board also is considering leasing natural gas rights at Oakland Elementary School.

The positions proposed for elimination would include one German instructor at the intermediate and high school, an elementary physical education teacher, and an elementary art slot. A computer tech position also will be considered for elimination, along with an intermediate high school English teacher. The English teacher would continue to conduct an after-school English course for at-risk students.

When considering salary, Social Security and retirement funds combined, the savings with all the positions adds up to more than $300,000. Also, changing six teaching positions at the elementary level to long-term substitute jobs would save an additional $150,000.

“At the elementary, we have six positions that I’m proposing to be long-term subs that would fill the classrooms … knowing that the consolidation is coming,” said Carolyn Cornish, assistant superintendent.

Thomas and Williamson, the company hired to do the consolidation study in the district, could present results to the board in August or September.

The study is expected to detail what if any, school buildings could be closed.

Superintendent Mike Strutt previously said the district has cut about 100 positions over the past five years to balance budgets.

Other adjustments to decrease the deficit include $500,000 in additional tax revenue, $250,000 in reductions for textbooks, and a $25,000 reduction in special education supplies.

Currently, the preliminary budget is slated to have a 2.6 mill property increase, which is up to the state allowed tax index.

That would bring the tax rate to 96.4 mills to fund the $100 million proposed budget.

The remaining deficit will be taken from the district’s fund balance.

Board members will vote Monday on the final budget for next school year.

Under state law, school districts must have their next year budgets approved by July 1.

The board also is considering leasing 11 acres of Oakland Elementary School property to Rex Energy, which has offered the district a $3,500 per acre up front payment and 16 percent of natural gas extraction royalties with no surface rights.