JERSEY SHORE — Confronting a roughly $1 million budget deficit, the Jersey Shore Area School District is considering cuts to staffing and student programs that parents and community members have criticized.

After the school board directed Superintendent Brian Ulmer to identify additional savings earlier this spring, he returned last week with a package of proposed cuts totaling more than $141,000. The recommendations include leaving several vacant positions unfilled, reducing field trip and extracurricular budgets and placing the district’s swim team on a moratorium.

Ulmer said the district is not considering a tax increase but did not detail what, if any, other measures might be taken to address the shortfall.

The most controversial of the proposed austerity measures impact high school extracurricular activities. Among them is Ulmer’s plan to place the high school swim team on moratorium over diminishing participation. According to the superintendent, only six athletes are expected to return from last year’s team.

If approved, the sport’s future would be reevaluated next year based on sign-ups.

Ulmer said the change would reduce swim program costs by $27,709, and additional savings could come from reduced pool operations.

The proposal has prompted a Change.org petition that has gathered more than 800 signatures. Krystal Williams, a district parent and the petition’s organizer, said the temporary suspension would harm students.

“The proposed moratorium on the swim team due to budget cuts is a decision that places an undue burden on our students, denying them the opportunities they deserve to excel, build character and enjoy their school years,” Williams said. “Budget cuts are a reality for many school districts, but they shouldn’t come at the expense of enriching and important programs like our swim team.”

She said the district should instead explore partnerships with local businesses, fundraising opportunities and grant applications to help bridge the financial gap without sacrificing what she called the district’s “unique and supportive” environment for student growth.

Other residents said sign-ups used to justify the proposal do not reflect actual participation. Allison Klugh, of Porter Township, said many students have not yet completed registration because they are still awaiting required physicals.

“I find it short sighted that they are looking at cutting the swim program based on a low number of students that signed up,” Klugh said. “The Athletic Department hasn’t even addressed winter sports signups yet.”

Jonathan Seiferth, a physician at UPMC in Williamsport who practices family medicine, urged the board to consider the health, safety and social benefits of the program.

“Let’s look at $27,000 in the grand scheme of things,” Seiferth said. “In a school district budget, this is a remarkably small fraction. You are getting rid of one of the most cost-efficient sports that exists. The cost per student athlete in this program is incredibly low, yet the return on investment is immeasurable.”

Another controversial aspect of Ulmer’s proposal is his plan to scale back a planned increase to the high school band’s transportation budget.

The amendment would reduce the bands’ transportation allocation to $14,000. While the proposal is $7,000 less than the $21,000 requested by the band, its apportionment is still $2,000 higher than last year’s $12,000 allocation.

“I am not taking away from what we already had,” Ulmer said. “I’m taking away from the requested increase.”

Ulmer said principals and the band director would determine which trips are taken within the revised allocation, while adding that they are exploring whether some transportation needs could be met through district vehicles or by volunteers.

“I know we think that’s an easy target for something to cut out of your budget, but I want you to understand the value that contracted service brings to the marching band,” said Diane Drajem, of Pine Creek, who testified about its importance at the meeting. She said the trailer is not easy to drive and that the contractor ensures expensive equipment is transported safely.

Another speaker, Nicole Green, of Jersey Shore, said that while attempting to drive one of the band’s trailers to Wildwood, N.J., it became dislodged on the road. Green said the contractor was the one to intervene and safely resolve the situation.

“Nobody else will want to step up to do that job,” she said.

Ulmer’s proposal would also reduce the middle school field trip budget by $1,000.

The superintendent said the reduction would not affect trips tied to student competitions, including FBLA, SkillsUSA and PMEA events, nor those funded by outside organizations such as booster clubs, PTOs or educational foundations.

“We combed through field trips with the lens of what is it that we’re doing that isn’t student competition, or qualifications of some sort, and what isn’t being funded by external organizations,” Ulmer said, adding few district-funded trips remain once those categories are excluded.

Many more of the other proposed cuts target staffing, which, as in many districts, is one of JSASD’s largest expenditures. In total, three positions — a custodian, a paraprofessional and a lunch monitor — would be eliminated, while three other vacant roles would receive reduced compensation.

“Those are positions that aren’t going to be replaced,” Ulmer said. “There are no furloughs.”

Combined, the elimination of those three jobs would reduce the deficit by $101,395.

To realize those savings, daytime staff would be shifted when custodians are absent to ensure buildings are clean by the start of the school day, and one high school lunch monitor would be reassigned to the middle school.

Ulmer’s proposal also calls for reducing the hours of the district’s Family Liaison/Truancy Officer, which would save $3,000. The position is currently vacant, and the replacement’s hours would be adjusted to match the revised salary allocation.

The final proposed change, affecting stipends for two vacant club advisor positions, would reduce the deficit by an additional $967.

Whether it chooses to proceed with the cuts or not, the school board must chart its course soon. The district’s final budget is scheduled for a vote June 22 at the board’s last meeting before the state-mandated June 30 deadline.

The district’s financial planning is clouded by the Pennsylvania legislature’s failure to approve a state budget, which has created uncertainty for school districts around expected revenue.

“Sixty percent of our budget we don’t even know whether we’re going to get it, so maybe write your representatives and state senators and ask them to let us know when we’re going to get paid, and we could make much different decisions,” school board member Craig Allen said, reacting to critics at the meeting.

Before closing the meeting, Board President Michelle Stemler said she appreciated residents sharing their concerns.

“We will take them into consideration,” she said.

The Jersey Shore Area School District Board of Directors will meet June 22 at 7 p.m. at the district administration building, 175 A&P Drive, Jersey Shore.