LaSalle High School students will have fewer electives to choose from next fall, with drafting, advanced woods, automotive, advanced computing, and accounting classes being eliminated altogether for the 2009-2010 school year. Some individual sections of construction and woods and metals classes have been cut, as well, although the classes will still be offered.

The high school saw two teachers retire this year, Tom Hamel and Karen Sanborn, whose positions will not be replaced. The school administration has instituted some of these class changes to allow existing teachers to help take over the workload left by these gaps, while still trying to provide a balanced education to its students. High School principal Don Gustafson said students may experience some difficulty scheduling classes with fewer sections offered, especially with increasing state graduation requirements filling up their schedules.

Mr. Gustafson said he regrets that the school couldn't offer the cut classes, but said these were the changes that made the most sense, owing to lower enrollment in those particular classes. For instance, he said, the last drafting section only had seven or eight students enrolled.

"When you're looking at the big scheme, that's not a class you can continue to offer," Mr. Gustafson said. "I'm hopeful that somewhere down the road we will be able to reinstate them."

Nick Hein, who teaches the industrial arts courses at LaSalle alongside Lynwood Leightner, said he would still allow students to pursue some automotive curriculum in his metals class by working on a 1969 Mustang.

"Those who are interested in restoring a car will still have the chance to do that," Mr. Hein said.

The school has done a good job keeping the meat of the program, he said, while making necessary cuts.

"The core nucleus of woods and metals classes will still be there," he said. "They did all they could to keep what we have."

With the hours freed by changes in the industrial arts program, Mr. Hein will be teaching three hours of U.S. history and doing some teaching at the juvenile detention center next fall, he said. Mr. Leightner will be taking on three computer classes, according to school administration.

Although the drafting curriculum will not be added into any other classes next year, Mr. Gustafson said the school would be willing to explore alternative solutions, such as online courses, for any interested students.

"There is a possibility that there may be an option for people in drafting to use an online component," he said. "We would look and see if it would be an option."

District superintendent Mike Springsteen said the decisions were difficult, but necessary because of St. Ignace schools' declining enrollment and reduced budget. He also cited increasing requirements for core curriculum as a factor that makes scheduling and offering a variety of classes difficult.

"They are all good programs and it hurts to lose any of them," Mr. Springsteen said. "When we are in the reduction mode, you have to look at where you can do the most for the most kids."

The district's general fund wil face $279,389 in cuts and a $285,363 deficit for the upcoming school year, based on a budge approved by the school board June 9, The St. Ignace News reported June 11. The cuts and shortfal come from an expected drop in enrollment and cuts in state aid estimated to be down $588,326 About 50% of the shortfall is being made up by cutting staff expenses 20% from cutting supplies and materials, and 30% will be covered by drawing from the district's sav ings account, or fund balance.