MADRID – Madrid-Waddington Central School’s Board of Education voted unanimously to reduce its library media specialist position from full-time to part-time Thursday.

The change is not permanent, however, as the school could reverse the decision in September, Superintendent Lynn M. Roy said.

“We are waiting until we have next year’s budget,” Mrs. Roy said. “We could still share the position with another school or BOCES. There are a couple of scenarios, including hiring somebody with dual certification to serve as a library media specialist.”

In the meantime, teacher’s aides, assistants and even students can fill some of the gaps left by the part-time library media specialist, Mrs. Roy said.

“Obviously, we will have to work out a few things such as disciplinary responsibilities,” Mrs. Roy said.

Through scheduling, Mrs. Roy said she is confident the library should remain open throughout the school day.

The change is part the district’s growing list of education cuts in the past several years. Positions and programs in elementary education, art, music, health, driver’s education, and elementary counseling have already been cut or reduced through attrition.

The cuts are part of the district’s overall efforts to stave off insolvency. The district is expected to be no longer financially viable in 4.3 years, Mrs. Roy said. The board has yet to determine the savings of reducing the library media specialist position, but Mrs. Roy said it won’t significantly impact the overall budget.

Mrs. Roy said the hiring process for the position is set to begin today, the application deadline. The position, which was vacated in January, is currently held by a long-term substitute.

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