The Sto-Rox school board is set to vote tonight on a budget that would cut 10 full-time and one half-time teaching position.

The proposal -- a significant change from the 26 furloughs projected in the district's preliminary budget -- seemed to have the support of most board members after a four-hour budget meeting last night.

"Let's get through this year," board president Kevin Kochirka said. "Let's get back on our feet."

After removing all uncertain revenue from the preliminary budget, business manager Chuck Lanna has added $824,000 in stimulus money back in along with about $260,000 in other revenue, while removing $157,000 in reimbursement money that is endangered by the state's budget crisis.

The additional revenue -- along with across-the-board cuts ranging from supplies to security staff, custodial staff, transportation and athletics -- allowed the administration to limit the proposed cuts in teaching staff.

Positions that may be eliminated include the reading and math tutors at the high school, two of the six language arts teachers at the middle school, the in-school suspension teachers at the high school and middle school, the middle school geography position, a half-time speech teacher position and three special education teachers.

Superintendent Fran Serenka said the district's enrollment has dropped from 1,549 in 2006-07 to a projected 1,314 for the upcoming year, a decrease of about 15 percent. Staffing levels, meanwhile, have remained more or less constant.

At a 25-to-1 ratio, a drop of 235 students should equate to a reduction of 9.5 teachers. And if 25 percent of the 235 were special education -- the usual rate in the district -- that would mean a reduction of three special education teachers, too.

"I think the reductions we have proposed, the 10.5 reductions, are appropriate," she said, though she added that "this is as low as I would go."

Ms. Serenka also is going to get a written opinion from the district solicitor on whether the furloughs are legal. The state school code does not allow furloughs for economic reasons, but does allow them in response to a decrease in enrollment.

Altogether, the $23.6 million budget will hold taxes at 25 mills.