DeKalb School Board a step closer to finalizing budget

DeKALB - The DeKalb School Board has chopped about $2.6 million from its proposed budget and is getting close to giving the spending plan the final OK. The board hopes to finalize the budget at its Aug. 2 meeting. Six teaching positions have been cut, fees for many extracurricular activities have been increased and the supplies budget has been slashed by $300,000, or roughly one-half. Each building principal will have to decide what supplies he or she will have to do without, MeriAnn Besonen, the district's assistant superintendent for business, said during Monday night's board meeting. Usually the district buys new instruments for the music program, but that will go by the wayside this year, she said. Several other activities will face s