With tough economic times still ahead and proration at 7.5 percent, the Butler County Board of Education has started what Superintendent Mike Looney called “a series of recommended cuts.”

At Thursday night’s board meeting, the board approved the discontinuation of the In-School Suspension Program (ISSP) for all county schools.

Board member Billy Jones abstained from the vote due to his wife’s employment in the system.

“We have lost 25 percent of our funds in the last two years,” Looney said. “I am recommending we begin to make cuts by eliminating ISSP in all schools, with its five employees either being laid off or re-assigned to other positions in the system.”

The program will be eliminated at the end of the first semester, Looney said.

Students currently served by ISSP will attend the Alternative School.

“This will be the first in a series of cuts to help reduce our spending. With that 25 percent loss and with 85 percent of our budget going to personnel, we are going to try to cut everywhere but in the classroom . . . we are going to try to avoid touching the classrooms,” Looney said.

A change in the wording of rules for qualification to pursue open positions in the system was also approved.

Previously, anyone serving in an interim position could not be considered as a candidate for that position.

“With the change, we are allowing all qualified individuals to apply for any positions, even if they are serving as an interim,” Looney said.