KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- The Kirksville School Board held its first meeting with newly elected members Tuesday night.
    
Jeff Brawner and Larry Logston received the top votes at last week's municipal election replacing Janet Gooch and Dr. Michael McManis.
    
The board elected Dr. Neal Chamberlain as president and Gay Nichting as vice president.
    
Superintendent Pat Williams presented an update on the budget for board members.  He says they're dealing with budget cuts through what he calls 'dialing back.'  Williams says he wants to avoid deep cuts as long as possible.

“Push that deep cut strategy as far out from consideration as possible and if you pay attention to what you hear from other districts throughout the state, unfortunately a lot of districts have had to develop the deep cut strategy which is to reduce staff dramatically,” said Kirksville Schools Superintendent Pat Williams.

As far as the construction goes, Williams says the money spent can only be used for that purpose. "I would hate to be going into tight financial times with facilities that need a lot of attention.  I grew up down the street, I've been in the district almost 25 years and I would say without question our facilities are in the best shape today that they've ever been in the histroy of this school district," said Willaims.
    
Williams says next fiscal year the budget will be $800,000 less than this year.
    
He says as far as summer school goes, they hope to know if it will be funded sometime in early May.