BILLINGS - School District 2 attempted to start its $2.7 million dollars in cuts Monday evening, but got caught up in what board members absolutely don't want to cut.

The monthly School Board meeting went much longer than normal Monday night as trustees attempted to make cuts after the failed levy puts the district far into the red. Faced with a list of what cuts they can make, the district took comments and advice from school officials and parents. The list of possibilities totals more than the necessary amount of cuts.

"I am recommending actually that they consider two cuts. And those are actually that they they cut 10 teaching positions and actually they close the Rimrock School for next year." says Superintendent Jack Copps. Those ten positions would be cut by not replacing teachers who are already leaving because of retirement and other reasons.

But trustees didn't make those cuts Monday night, instead they made an ordered list of what to cut first and last. Near the bottom of that list were literacy programs for at risk K-6 kids, counselors for K-8 students, and extended studies. The 10 teaching positions are at the top of the list to be cut first, as are board contingency funds, which are in the budget for emergencies and total around $300,000 dollars.

One of the cuts that got a lot of attention was the move from middle schools to junior highs and cutting middle school activities. Teacher negotiations begin Tuesday and those will determine the exact amount that needs to be cut. One thing is certain, the board is not jumping into making any of these cuts quickly.