The Lansing School Board passed the 2010-2011 budget by a 5-4 vote Tuesday.

"The integrity of the instructional programs is still in tact," Superintendent T.C. Wallace said. "We tried to keep the cuts as far away from the classroom as possible."

The administration was able to slash $16 million by cutting personnel and expenses, then took $6 million from reserves. What they didn't do this year, was close a building.

"That issue is still on the back burner," Wallace said. "We have a committee looking into reconfiguring the schools, which could happen the next school year."

"We got through this year OK, but next year we will have to have a major restructuring just to keep the district solvent," School Board President Jack Davis said.

Though the budget is technically passed, there are still three issues unresolved: one is the Ebersole Center, another is the Alternative Education program at the Hill Center. Money has been budgeted for both, but no final decisions were made.

Board members are also considering sharing an elementary principal between two buildings, a cost saving idea that seemed to strike a chord with parents.

"I think my children are entitled to have a full-time instructional staff," One parent said Monday.

Board member Myra Ford agrees there, which is why she voted "no."

Hugh Clarke and President Jack Davis said they think $300,000 is better spent elsewhere other than the district's nature center.

"Do I give you $300,000 to run your center, or maybe I keep two principles in the building?" Clarke said at the meeting.

Clearly, decisions still have to be made, and the work is not yet complete for the next school year.

The Board is considering eliminating the alternative high school inside the Hill Center and replacing it with an online curriculum where at-risk students would stay in their own buildings.

There is no timetable for when the board might make these decisions, the main hurdle was passing a balanced budget before the June 30th deadline.,