School districts all around the Quad Cities are facing budget shortages, forcing administrators to make some hard choices.  Monday night, it was Moline's turn.

Superintendent Cal Lee presented his list of recommended cuts to the School Board.  He had about 70 options to choose from and narrowed that down to 30.  The list would save nearly $4 million.

It includes cutting several teaching and staff positions and parts of some programs and some parents worry what the cuts will mean to their kids' education.

Lee says he resents the situation the district is in - being forced to make budget cuts - partly because he says the state isn't living up to its responsibilities.  He says Illinois owes the district $1.5 million. "We need the state to do something - do something positive, something that's fair and reliable."

Lee says because of the recession, property taxes and interest income are also down, leaving the district's education fund $6.5 millions dollars short by June.  Most of the education fund pays salaries.  That's why he's recommending the board slash nearly 30 positions - about half through attrition. 

$750,000 could be saved by not replacing seven elementary school teachers.  That would increase class sizes, which is a big concern for parent Michael Zemek.

"My daughter's one of 27 students in her kindergarten class. That's a huge number of kids, so I'm concerned that they're looking at even increasing those numbers," Zemek said.

The biggest budget saving, a millions dollars, would come from a reduction in group insurance - which Lee says is similar to a pay cut.  Some of the other suggestions include not buying textbooks, reducing the athletic budget, cutting back on travel and phasing out 5th grade band.  That particular proposal hit a nerve with Michele Sapp.

"Kindergartners see the big 5th graders, 6th graders carrying instruments and they think, 'Wow, I want to do that someday.' That will be lost when middle school is the only place when instruments start," said Sapp.

The decisions aren't easy, but Lee says administrators aren't forgetting to focus on kids.

"At the end of the day, you want your kids to have everything that you can possibly give them for them to be successful, " Lee said.

Some people at Monday's meeting asked why the Moline-Coal Valley School District is going ahead with a $30 million middle-school expansion plan, if they're having budget problems.  Lee says that money comes from the capital fund and legally can't be used for anything else.

The school board is asking for your input and is encouraging you to contact them with any questions or concerns.  The board will talk about the proposed cuts and vote on them March 8th.