CHARLO — Budget cuts facing the Charlo School District will not be as severe as originally feared. Initially facing he grim possibility of cutting teaching positions, recent developments have allowed the district to retain three of those posts. However, fiscal shortcomings will still require that they eliminate a half-time special education position that served both the middle school and high school.According to district superintendent Thom Peck, a variety of factors came together to save the jobs from the chopping block.

“The legislature pulled through for us, so that helped,” Peck said, alluding to the passage of Senate Bill 175. The district also secured grant funding for special education, and Peck noted that the school received a “significant” financial boost from the generosity of a donor in the community, whose identity was not revealed.

Despite the job retention, the district will still feel the effects of wide-ranging cuts to various programs, including extracurricular activities, field trips, maintenance, drama and music.

Peck says cuts were made with the priority of making “the least impact on students and student achievement.”