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NOVINGER, MO. -- Heartland schools are making changes for the new school year because of budget cuts.
    
Novinger Schools is operating with one less principal in order to save on costs.
   
Penny Copelin was the part-time elementary principal last year.  This year she's responsible for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
    
Superintendent Bill Lake will help out but has his own concerns with the reduction in administrative staff.

“If I get called and selected to a jury and I'm out of the building for a while, it leaves Mrs. Copelin by herself which is a lot to ask of her.  I'm sure the staff would step up but the concern I have is the legal liability of lack of supervision,” said Novinger Schools Superintendent Bill Lake.
    
Lake says the school has only been in session for three days but so far, so good.
    
He says the school board is also offering to lend a helping hand in other areas if needed.

Superintendent Bill Lake says the school has done a good job of dealing with budget cuts so far.

“We've cut in other areas, we've been fortunate, we've had some teachers reach the end of their career and retire and we haven't had to replace the last two or three.  That's pretty much coming to an end at the end of this year,” said Lake.

Superintendent Bill Lake says he fears the cuts could affect the curriculum.

“If it's as bad as what they tell us it's going to be, then you're going to have to start, what I say, affecting the education. To this point, I don't think we've had to change what's going on in the classroom.  We've been able to maintain that, hopefully improve on it,” said Lake.

Lake says other cuts could include combining classes and limiting offerings to the high school students.

There are 18 less students this year than last and if enrollment keeps declining, the budget cuts will only get worse.