There was some very spirited opposition at the Lansing School Board meeting Thursday, especially from the Everett cheerleading squad.

"If you take this program without any compromise, then students will go with it," one cheerleader told the school board.

The girls, their parents, and their coach came to the public hearing to fight for their program, one that's on the chopping block as one part of $90,000 in proposed cuts to athletics.

"It means a lot to them," Parent Melissa Williford said. "It gives them something to do. It teaches them discipline."

Supporters of the Ebersole Environmental Center were in attendance too. The good news? The district may have found a way to keep the nature center open, the compromise though, is it would close for parts of the year.

"This is one of those things I don't think should be cut," David Bringham, a teacher at Elmhurst Elementary School, said. "It has a dramatic impact on students academically, socially and scientifically."

Superintendent T.C. Wallace said managing a $22 million budget deficit this year has been difficult. The administration believes they've come up with a balance -- $16 million in cuts, plus using $6 million from the reserves.

"We put in a lot of effort and deliberation in trying to bring a reduction in expenditures that causes the least pain," Wallace said. "That was our challenge."

Getting double the number of school employees to retire than anticipated helped a lot he said, but still tough decisions had to be made.

Which may mean certain programs may have to go. But the Everett cheerleaders are hoping it's not their program, which is why they offered some alternatives to the school board.

Those alternatives include the coach offering to give up her salary and volunteer her services. They offered to only cheer at home games, and fund raise any other expenses they might have. They say, it shouldn't cost the district a dime.

To balance the budget, the administration came up with several cost saving measures, like cutting staff and capital improvements. 151 employees decided to retire which saves the district about $2.4 million. They plan to take $6 million from the reserves.

The school board is set to vote on this budget on Tuesday, June 22nd.